Alex Song is hoping he may get a return move back to Arsenal this summer. The midfielder is frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities at Barcelona and considering trying to force a move back to the Emirates.
Rigobert Song, Alex’s cousin and former Liverpool defender was speaking in the Metro and revealed: “His season he has only been a substitute. He is not happy. At Arsenal he was a leader on and off the field – he doesn’t feel like this in Spain and it makes him feel bad.”
Song has made only 15 appearances for Barcelona this season and was recently voted ‘flop of the season’ by a Catalan newspaper.
Song’s case is reminiscent of that of Alexander Hleb. The Belarusian left Arsenal to join Barcelona in 2008 but like Song, struggled to get into the first team.
Grass isn’t always greener
He made only 19 appearances in four years for the Catalans and was loaned out to Stuttgart, Birmingham City and Wolfsburg until his contract at the Nou Camp expired.
Hleb went from being one of the key players in Arsenal’s side that regularly competed at the top of the Premiership and in the Champions League, to a spare part at Barcelona. He spent four years being loaned out every season waiting for his contract to expire.
Hopefully for Song his career doesn’t take the same path, but he may have to take a pay cut to get out of Barcelona, as it is unlikely many clubs will be willing to match his current wages.