Older Players Would Be ‘Crazy’ To Turn Down Saudi Offers – Glen Johnson
Former Chelsea and Liverpool defender Glen Johnson thinks older players will be ‘crazy’ to turn down lucrative Saudi offers.
With a raft of household names moving from European leagues to the Middle East in the summer, including Neymar, Karim Benzema, Sadio Mane, and Jordan Henderson, the Saudi Pro League has emerged as a significant player in the transfer market.
Talking to LiveScore, the former Liverpool right-back, 39, said “After being successful in the biggest league in the world, you don’t have too much to prove.”
“If you’re not playing in England anymore, then of course to go out, live somewhere different, why not?
“I was 23 then no chance. If I’m 32, then I absolutely would try something new.
“For these guys, let’s be honest, the money’s hard to turn down. Some of the older guys, you’d be crazy to say no.
“I wouldn’t want to see 21-year-old players go there then they disappear but if you’re 30 or above, how can these guys turn this money down?
“You can’t really blame them because most people if you get offered 10 times more to do the same job, most people are going to say yes.
“But I can understand it more at the end of their careers. I wouldn’t want to see a young 21-year-old superstar go.”
Johnson’s sentiments indicate changing perceptions regarding the Saudi Pro League and its role in shaping the transfer market in European leagues in the upcoming transfer windows.
The statement also indicates that players, including ex-pros, are coming around to the idea that the Saudi Pro League is a good option for many players in Europe.
