Life not just about money! Aymeric Laporte opens on Saudi
Aymeric Laporte has lifted the lid on life as a footballer in Saudi Arabia after joining Al-Nassr from Manchester City.
After six trophy-laden seasons at the Etihad, Laporte joined the cohort of major stars of European football making the switch to the Gulf state last summer when he joined Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.
The Spain international became the most expensive defender in the history of the Saudi Pro League on his arrival in Riyadh, but has since revealed that life at his new club has left a lot to be desired.
‘It’s a big change compared to Europe, but in the end it’s all adaptation,’ Laporte told Spanish publication AS.
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‘They haven’t made it easy for us. In fact, there are many players who are dissatisfied, but hey; We are working on it every day, negotiating so to speak, and seeing if it improves a little because this is something new for them too, having European players who already have a long career.
The 29-year-old added that despite the extravagant wages on offer in Saudi Arabia – he is reported to be earning £21m-a-year – European clubs tend to take better care of their players.
Less than six months into his three-year contract Jordan Henderson departed Al-Ettifaq earlier this week, joining Ajax after struggling to settle after his controversial move from Liverpool.
Despite previous reports that Henderson and his wife Rebecca Burnett were ‘settled’ in Saudi Arabia after his blockbuster move, the former Liverpool star called time on life in the Kingdom after less than seven months.
Henderson and his family had been residing in more liberal Bahrain, a 55-minute trip across what has already been dubbed the ‘booze bridge’ (there is a more progressive approach to alcohol over the border).
Asked whether he is plotting a departure as a result of the ongoing issues, the former Athletic Bilbao star Laporte refused to rule anything out.
‘No, let’s see. At the moment, I haven’t thought about it, but if I’m disappointed in such a short time, you wonder what to do.’ He continued.
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‘That moment has not yet arrived, but in the future it could be if this dynamic continues.’
‘To be honest, many of us have also come here not only for football. Many of us are happy with that, but I am also looking for something beyond that is not the economic part and such.
‘In terms of quality of life, I expected something different because in the end here you spend three hours a day in the car. Riyadh is a waste of traffic, of time wasted in the car.’
Laporte is not the first high-profile arrival in Saudi Arabia to voice their discontent about life outside of football in the country.