Adrian Mierzejewski, who play for Al Nassr before, don yarn about how life dey for Saudi Arabia for footballer. According to am, if you play well, sheikh go come down to dressing room after match and hand you keys of new car. This one come as Robert Lewandowski dey consider move to Saudi league.
Lewandowski get contract with Barcelona wey still get one and half month. The player don talk many times say he no know where he go play next season. Maybe he go sign new deal with Barcelona, Italian media dey mention Juventus and Milan as clubs wey want am, and Chicago Fire dey interested. But according to latest information, Saudi direction don become very real. Tomasz Włodarczyk from Meczyki indicate say the striker dey look that way, while Jarosław Koliński from WP SportoweFakty write about cosmic offer from Al Hilal and proposal of 90 million euros for one year play for one of best clubs for Saudi.
Mierzejewski, who be champion of Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr for 2015, dey praise the league. He talk say life for Saudi don change for better. When he leave there over ten years ago, things no be like this. Now women get more freedom, locals and foreigners too. Visa and sheikh approvals no longer problem. New estates dey built specially for foreigners, wey before locals no fit enter.
He say Saudi don open to many events: boxing galas, concerts, Formula 1 races, Super Cups. League level don rise because better players dey come. Before, clubs dey pay as dem like, but now everything na standard, and salaries don become gigantic. He say when he dey there, he live for best house for best estate for Riyadh, but now plenty such houses dey because of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and other top players. Infrastructure dey improve because of dem.
Mierzejewski think say Saudi move go benefit Lewandowski for national team call-ups. Flight from USA to Poland be 12 hours, from Saudi be 6. From Spain na 3 hours. Time difference small, just one hour ahead, so Lewy go feel like for Europe. He say if Lewy get questions, dem fit talk. And he get friends wey dey play for the league already.
He compare Saudi league to Turkish league. Tactics no too matter, players get freedom for attack because dem dey bring stars to dazzle. League dey offensive, matches dey enjoyable. Pace dey slower, but technical. People dey come watch beautiful goals, no boring 0-0. There be five strong clubs with big financial backing: Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Shabab. He say maybe dem need reduce number of teams for league.
Mierzejewski say fans dey remember am still after ten years. Support dey pass from generation to generation. He spend last holiday for Dubai and meet some Saudis wey recognize am, take photos, play footvolley for beach. Fans dey passionate like for Turkey, with 70,000 or 80,000 for derby matches. Religion dey first, but football dey second.
Footballers get high social status. Apart from salary, plenty extras dey. For contract you fit negotiate private helicopter or limousine. Mierzejewski say for Al Nassr, club pay for house of 400 square meters, flight tickets, car, school for children, medical care for wife when she pregnant. His son born for Saudi. Club cover all costs. Standard for Arab style. If you play well, dem go reward you. Sheikh go come down to dressing room and give you car keys.
He say Saudi no go slow down. Dem want push football trend to limit at least till 2034 World Cup wey dem go host. Nobody fit catch dem for scale. China don dry, plus COVID. No strong fan traditions there. Important be players attitude to give 100%, no come only for money and complain after six months. But biggest magnet na million-dollar contracts, offers wey no fit refuse. Talks start with salary. No one dey go there to fulfill dreams, though league don change and dey well packaged. Life outside pitch dey sweet. But for smaller clubs, facilities no too rich.
About Lewandowski for national team, Mierzejewski talk say as director of sports for Poland, dem want Lewy continue for squad. Coach Jan Urban talk say dem want Robert for team. But first, Lewy need decide club future.
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