“During my entire time at Arsenal, I couldn’t even save £100,000 ($140,000)” Alexander Song admits he joined Barcelona because of money

Nkwain Desmond January 16th, 2022, 7:48 am

Former indomitable Lions defender Alexander Song who now plays for Djibouti club Arta Solar has admitted he moved to Barcelona from Arsenal for Money. The defender went on to say he couldn’t even save up to $140,000 during his time at Arsenal.

The midfielder has admitted that he was no good at saving money during his time in north London and that he moved to Barcelona for financial reasons

The player currently has several investments in his native Cameroon including a construction company in his home town of Douala, a fashion business named Systeme Tchakap, and a connection with a school in Yaounde.

In the summer of 2012 after Cesc Fabregas move to FC Barcelona everyone thought Alex Song will be the main man in Arsenal’s midfield and go on to become a club legend but things didn’t turn out that way. The defensive midfielder at that time followed in Fabregas footsteps and made a £15m($20.6m) move to the Catalan giants.

Not only did Song have his old team-mate to compete with for a spot in midfield, there was also certain-starter Sergio Busquets, meaning he usually either played in defence or not at all.

Still, Song did play 65 games across two years in Spain, and also won La Liga in 2013. Tellingly, though, he only recorded two assists.

In an Instagram chat with Toronto Raptors basketball star Pascal Siakam, he said: “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. That was because my salary went up a lot – but also because I came to realise what a waster I was.

“During my entire time at Arsenal, I couldn’t even save £100,000 ($140,000), while people thought I must be a millionaire.

Alex Song Arsenal salary 2012 GFX
“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.

“I met Barca’s sporting director, and he told me I would not get to play many games, but I didn’t give a f*ck – I knew that now I would become a millionaire.”