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FootballFormer Cameroon Midfielder Alex Song Makes Shocking Revelation About Why He Left Arsenal
- Former Cameroon and Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has spoken on why he left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2012
- Alex Song left the Gunners when he was commanding regular play time to sit on the bench in Barcelona
- The ex-Arsenal player now plays in Djibouti for AS Arta/Solar7 after spending 16 years of his career in Europe
Alex Song has shockingly revealed that he could no save money during his time at Arsenal in the English Premier League.
The former Cameroon international disclosed that his desire to match up with the 'big boys' in England left him broke at a young age.
And an Instagram chat with Cameroonian NBA star Pascal Siakam, Song explained he had to join Barcelona even though he knew his playing time would reduce drastically.
"Most footballers live beyond their means. I was at Arsenal for eight years but only began to earn a good living in the last four," he said as quoted by The Sun.
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"That was because my salary went up a lot - but also because I came to realise what a waster I was. When I first joined them I was getting £15,000 a week. I was a young lad, and I was ecstatic.
"I wanted to rub shoulders with the big boys. I could shop wherever I wanted and have crazy nights out.
"I would go to training and see Thierry Henry - the King - turn up in an absolute gem of a car. I told myself I wanted the same car at all costs.
"I went to the dealership, signed the papers and arranged to pay for it by standing order - and just like that I had the same car as The King. But I swear that I had to hand the car back inside two months. All my money was going on filling it with petrol.
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Football"I told them: 'Give me a Toyota - this car's too much for me.' When I next went to training Thierry asked me: 'Where's your car, son?' I told him it's on a higher level than me.
"During my entire time at Arsenal I couldn't even save £100,000, while people thought I must be a millionaire."
Song left Arsenal after eight years to join Spanish giants Barcelona.
"When Barcelona offered me a contract, and I saw how much I would earn, I didn't think twice. I felt my wife and children should have comfortable lives once my career is over," he narrated.
"I met Barca's sporting director, and he told me I would not get to play many games. But I didn't give a care - I knew that now I would become a millionaire."
Former Arsenal player Alex Song wins league title in Djibouti
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song has won the Djibouti Premier League with Arta/Solar7 six months after joining them.
How goalie Iker Casillas went from sitting in a classroom to sharing the same table with Madrid’s Galácticos
FootballThe 33-year-old was named the club's captain shortly after moving to there in November 2020 and he has now inspired them to their first-ever top-flight glory.
Arta Solar defeated second-place outfit AS Port 4-2 in their meeting last Friday to secure their first title with two games remaining in the league.