Tijjani Reijnders explains Man City exit: "I don't want to have to work again"

Tijjani Reijnders has broken his silence to explain why he left Pep Guardiola's Manchester City and signed for Al Qadsiah in a deal worth 61 million euros. The Dutch midfielder admits he never felt comfortable with the role the Catalan coach had in mind for him, and that Saudi Arabia's financial proposal, close to 100 million euros over four years, allowed him to secure the future of several generations of his family.

• Reijnders left City after failing to fit into the attacking midfield role Guardiola wanted from him.
• Al Qadsiah paid 61 million euros for the transfer and offered a contract worth around 100 million over four years.
• The Dutchman says his goal is to spend three or four seasons in Saudi Arabia and then return to European football.
• He rates the Saudi league above the Eredivisie and believes anyone would have accepted that offer.

The role Guardiola wanted from him at Manchester City and why it did not work

Reijnders wanted to play as a dynamic midfielder, free to move between defense and attack and involved in both phases of the game. At the Etihad Stadium, however, he found himself increasingly stuck in an attacking midfield position, closer to the opposition box and less involved in build-up play. That trend, which had already surfaced in previous seasons, appeared again during preseason.

During preseason, I realized things were heading in that direction again at City, and I started to ask myself if I wanted another season like that. The honest answer was no.

That was when the club told him he had permission to listen to offers. The Dutchman began seriously considering a change of scenery, and the Saudi option appeared, a destination that had not been part of his plans until then.

The move to Al Qadsiah and the massive contract that changed his mind

Al Qadsiah, a Saudi Pro League club, paid 61 million euros to secure his services. According to the figures that have been reported, the midfielder signed a four-year deal worth close to 100 million euros in total. Reijnders does not hide that the money was a decisive factor.

The Dutchman admits that at first he shared the belief that accepting this kind of offer meant the end of a career at the highest level. But conversations with Brendan Rodgers, the Al Qadsiah head coach, changed his perspective. The manager presented him with a project that had a clear path and left the door open for a return to Europe.

Brendan Rodgers, the key to accepting the Saudi challenge

He told me I could spend three or four very enjoyable years here and then return to Europe. There are already enough examples of that. That is also my goal.

Reijnders sees the move as a chance to experience something different without closing the door on European football. He believes the Saudi league has improved significantly thanks to the arrival of big names and does not hide that, right now, he rates it above the Eredivisie, the competition in his home country.

Reijnders' honest stance: securing his family's future

The Dutchman does not hide behind romantic speeches or the search for new sporting challenges to justify his decision. He speaks openly about money and stability. He says his City contract had already given him financial peace of mind, but the Saudi proposal allows him to secure the well-being of the next generations of his family.

I don't want to have to work again when my career is over. If this decision means my grandchildren can also live comfortably, why wouldn't I do it?

For Reijnders, taking a moral stance on the destination he chose is easy from the outside, but he is convinced that almost no one would turn down such an offer. His message makes it clear that, once his time in Manchester was over, the priority became the financial project and the chance to retire without worries.

Frequently asked questions about Tijjani Reijnders and his move to Al Qadsiah