Tijjani Reijnders has delivered a remarkably candid explanation for his summer transfer from Manchester City to Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah, openly admitting that financial security and not having to work after retirement drove his decision.
The Dutch midfielder, who spent just one season at the Etihad Stadium before completing a £52m switch, dismissed the notion of hiding behind football cliches, pointing out that the scale of the contract makes a life after football entirely stress-free.
Speaking to Daily Mail about his motives, Reijnders did not mince words regarding the lucrative nature of the move.
‘Once my playing career is over, I don’t want to have to work anymore. Of course, I probably wouldn’t have needed to work anymore after my contract at Manchester City either, but this move allows me to secure the future of the next generations of my family.
‘I’m not going to lie about that. By signing this contract, I can make sure even my grandchildren are financially secure, so why wouldn’t I do it?’ Especially the ambition of the club (is what attracted me).
‘The club wants to be the biggest in Asia and what they did already in the past and what we can do now in the future, it triggered me a lot. And, yeah, I want to help the club to bring it to the highest level.
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‘I came here to try and win trophies with my teammates – we’re playing for four trophies, if I’m right. We want to win as many as possible and we are all very eager to do that. And, personally, I hope I can help the team as much as possible with goals and assists.’
Despite turning down alternative interest from European clubs to chase the Saudi project, Reijnders has maintained regular minutes under Al-Qadsiah and retained his place in the Netherlands national team setup.
