Alex Song says he had only £100,000 savings when he left Arsenal
Alex Song played in Arsenal for 8 years before moving to Barcelona where he played most of his useful career, the Camerronian star reveals how difficult it is for rich footballers to save money while keeping up a millionaire’s lifestyle that the fans expect them to live.
You might think all footballers are super rich millionaires, but what many forget to realize is the lifestyle that the footballers live deny them the opportunity to prepare for the future and life after days of the glamorous earnings ends.
He revealed this during a live session where he shed light on his career and finances.
“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,” Song said in an Instagram Live chat with Cameroonian basketball star Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors.
“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. 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 continued: “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.
“I knew that now I would become a millionaire.
“I’ll always say that a 20-year-old who drives a Ferrari is a poor man, as at that age he’s not yet achieved anything.
But a man of 50 who drives a Bentley is a man to be respected.”
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Song played 65 times for Barcelona in two seasons before being loaned out to West Ham for two years.
He won the Laliga and Spanish Super Cup in 2013, and left Barcelona for good in 2016 to join Russian side Rubin Kazan.
