Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song has openly admitted to being a “waster” during his time at the Gunners and has revealed that he initially joined Barcelona for the money.

Song, who spent seven seasons at Arsenal, expressed his extravagant lifestyle when he first arrived at the club as a young player, living beyond his means and spending excessively.

This reckless spending led to him acquiring a flashy car, similar to the one his Arsenal idol Thierry Henry drove, but he had to return it within two months because of the enormous petrol costs.

The Cameroon international, who now finds himself a free agent after being sacked by Swiss club Sion in March, reflected on his financial choices in an Instagram chat with fellow Cameroonian athlete, Pascal Siakam.

Alex Song candidly admitted that most footballers tend to live beyond their means, and his situation only changed during the latter part of his Arsenal career when he began to earn a higher salary.

At that point, he realized the need to become more responsible with his money.

When Barcelona presented Song with the opportunity to join them, he was well aware that he wouldn’t play many games, but the significant increase in his earnings was a strong motivator.

Song’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the financial challenges and lifestyle temptations that many young athletes face as they enter the world of professional football.