Alex Song Admits He Left Arsenal For Barcelona For Money

Alex Song has admitted he left Arsenal for Barcelona in pursuit of more money and did not care about his lack of playing time.

After playing over 200 times for Arsenal, Song signed for the Blaugrana in 2012. He spent just one season in the Nou Camp, playing 20 games and winning La Liga - the only major trophy he lifted in his career.

But eight years on and the Cameroonian is honest as ever about why he made the switch when he knew full and well he was never likely to get in the side.

Having been on £15,000-a-week when he first joined Arsenal, he signed for Barca knowing that his bank account would be much healthier.

"During my entire time at Arsenal I couldn't even save £100,000, while people thought I must be a millionaire, Song told Toronto Raptors basketball star Pascal Siakam on Instagram Live.

"When Barcelona offered me a contract, and I saw how much I would earn, I didn't think twice. I felt my wife and children should have comfortable lives once my career is over.

"I met Barca's sporting director, and he told me I would not get to play many games.

"But I didn't give a f*** - I knew that now I would become a millionaire.

"I'll always say that a 20-year-old who drives a Ferrari is a poor man, as at that age he's not yet achieved anything. But a man of 50 who drives a Bentley is a man to be respected."

Song's most infamous moment in a Barca shirt was when he mistakenly thought Carles Puyol was asking him to lift the La Liga trophy.

Stood next to Eric Abidal, who had recently come back from a liver transplant, for some reason Song thought he was being called upon to lift the title in a very, very awkward moment.

He quickly started clapping away but it was all too late to save him from embarrassment.