Axel Witsel Reveals Why Players Leave Europe For Saudi Arabia

Atletico Madrid midfielder Axel Witsel says players leaving Europe for Saudi Arabia and China do it for ‘the money’. After stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, and Sadio Mane all left prestigious clubs in Europe for the Middle East, Axel Witsel asserted that players moving to the Saudi Pro League ‘just go there for the money’.

Witsel said: “Each of us has our own path. I’m not saying it was bad to leave for Saudi Arabia, I went to China when I was 27. He did well, for me it was a life experience.”

“Obviously we go there for money, we don’t have to talk about the sports project. It’s the truth, Carrasco did it and that’s fine with me.”

Witsel left Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2017 to join Tianjin Quanjian in China. He made just 36 appearances for the Tianjin-based team before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2018 and returning to Europe. When he relocated to China, there was a similar period of high-profile hiring as other elite athletes did the same in quest of better pay.

The majority of Atletico Madrid’s games this season have included the Belgian midfielder, who recently drew 1-1 with Lazio in the Champions League. Witsel will now be anticipating the forthcoming Sunday night derby against neighborhood rivals Real Madrid.