Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song once tried to imitate Thierry Henry’s luxurious lifestyle, only to discover that earning a substantial salary did not necessarily mean he could afford the same expenses as one of football’s biggest stars.
The former Cameroon international recalled how his excitement over signing his first lucrative professional contract led him to purchase an expensive vehicle similar to the one Henry drove during their time together at Arsenal.
Song was just a teenager when he arrived in England from French club Bastia in 2005. He was earning approximately £15,000 per week, a considerable amount for someone beginning his professional career.
However, the midfielder quickly discovered that his spending habits were becoming difficult to sustain.
During a conversation with fellow Cameroonian and NBA player Pascal Siakam in May 2020, Song explained that he became fascinated with Henry’s car after seeing his Arsenal teammate arrive at training.
Determined to enjoy the same lifestyle, Song visited a dealership and arranged to purchase a similar vehicle through regular payments.
The excitement did not last long.
According to Song, he returned the vehicle after just two months because the fuel expenses were consuming too much of his money. He subsequently decided to replace it with a more affordable Toyota.
The situation became particularly embarrassing when Henry noticed the change and asked his younger teammate what had happened to his expensive car.
Song admitted that the vehicle was simply beyond his financial capabilities, recognizing that trying to imitate Henry’s lifestyle had been a mistake.
The former midfielder used the experience to explain how young footballers can struggle to manage their finances despite receiving salaries considerably higher than those earned by most people.
Song acknowledged that he initially believed his earnings allowed him to purchase expensive items without worrying about the consequences.
However, his financial situation improved only after he began understanding the importance of managing his spending.
The Cameroonian spent eight years at Arsenal between 2005 and 2012, developing into an important midfielder under Arsene Wenger.
Despite earning increasingly lucrative contracts during that period, Song admitted that he had failed to save even £100,000 throughout his time with the London club.
He explained that his salary increased significantly during his final four years at Arsenal, but his earlier spending habits prevented him from building substantial savings.
His experience also influenced how he approached his next major career decision.
In August 2012, Song joined Barcelona after the Spanish club agreed to sign him from Arsenal.
The midfielder later admitted that financial security was a major motivation behind the transfer.
He explained that Barcelona’s sporting director had warned him that he would receive limited playing time, but the financial terms were attractive enough to convince him to accept the offer.
Song believed the contract would allow him to provide a comfortable future for his wife and children after his playing career ended.
The former Cameroon international’s account illustrates how his relationship with money changed throughout his career, beginning with an expensive attempt to copy Henry and eventually developing into a greater appreciation of financial stability.
His experience at Arsenal provided an unforgettable lesson: earning £15,000 per week did not mean he could afford to live like Thierry Henry.
