Tijjani Reijnders was at one of the best moments of his career at Manchester City. He had the level, consistency, and a place on one of the best teams in Europe.
Even so, he decided to leave for Saudi Arabia. He gave the reason himself, without beating around the bush: “I’m not going to lie, by signing this contract, I can ensure that even my grandchildren are financially secure”.
“So why wouldn’t I?”. A phrase that sums up a generation of footballers who no longer play solely for prestige.
The figure helps put it into perspective: 350,000 dollars a week. Multiply that by a year and the decision no longer sounds strange.
Reijnders did not speak of titles or nostalgia for European football; he spoke of the future, family, and a level of security that few contracts in the world can offer.