Alex Song: I didn’t have up £100k in my account when I was leaving Arsenal for Barcelona when people thought I was a millionaire

Former Arsenal midfielder, Alexandre Song has revealed that he couldn’t boast of having up to £100,000 in his bank account after spending 8 years at the capital club.

Alexandre Song in fact, revealed that he was poor when people thought he was a millionaire while playing for the Arsene Wenger trained side.

The Cameroonian was one of the best holding midfielders during his eight year spell with Arsenal before leaving for Barcelona where he said he became a millionaire.

Song said he practically blew his early incomes on expensive cars and life style above his standard.

‘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 video with Toronto Raptors’ forward Pascal Siakam.

‘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.’

Alex Song didn’t enjoy playing time at Barcelona and was mostly played out of position when he gets playing time.

The former Sion midfielder said he was told he might not get a huge playing time but he never cared as he knew he was going to become a millionaire.

‘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*** – 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.’