After several years in the Bundesliga with Mainz, Robin Quaison chose to leave Europe this summer. Then he changed clubs to Saudi Al-Ettifaq.
Now the national team star explains his decision.
– It was a long period of reflection during and after the European Championships and I felt that was where I wanted to go. Since I left AIK seven years ago, I have struggled at the bottom (of the series). I was a little tired of it. The clubs in Europe that came up with a concrete offer for me were teams that could become the bottom team this season. Mentally, I could not bear it, says Quaison.
How much did the money matter?
– As I tried to explain: most of it is about the mental. And in Europe, people do not make bad money either.
He generally believes that the picture from the outside about how luxurious life players in Saudi Arabia, for example, live is exaggerated. And he does not feel that his everyday life has changed much after the move.
– It’s almost the same wherever I am. I’m home, I’m watching TV, playing Playstation… For me, Saudi Arabia, Germany or Italy are the same thing.
However, there are things that are different in Saudi Arabia, Quaison admits.
– First and foremost, it’s the heat. It’s fat hot down there. Then the game goes back and forth a bit. Saudi players are not as organized as Germans. But they are more technical.
– It’s generally more relaxed down there. I was a little surprised. The organization is chill. It suits me, says the forward and smiles.
But he has had to get used to the heat.
– In my first match I was dead after ten minutes. I could not bear it. It was maybe 40 degrees hot, but the humidity is the thing. You can not breathe, you just sweat and you are completely exhausted. I have a friend who lives with me down there and he said he thought I was going to die.
When asked how the level is in the league, Quaison answers:
– Up and down. There are some players who are very good, and there are some who are not so good. It’s a bit mixed. Overall, I feel that the level is better than I thought.
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