It is not uncommon for players to jet out towards the far flung corners of the world when their career is coming to an end.
But Ahmed Musa did things a little differently. The Nigeria international was just 25 when he seized the opportunity to make a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia.
Flash forward two years however and, with his bank balance suitably swelled, Musa is now ready to put football above finances once again.
Speaking to ESPN in October, the former CSKA Moscow talisman admitted that he had asked Al-Nassr to cancel his staggering £31 million-a-year deal.
Musa, clearly, has a return Europe’s top table in his sights.
“I met with the club and requested that they should terminate my contract, and they were kind enough to agree to let me go,” the 95-cap international told ESPN.
“I have always wanted to return to Europe, and I feel that this is the best time for me to make that move. I want to get back to playing at the top level again against the best players in the world.”
Unfortunately for Musa, an ill-fated spell at Leicester City remains a major blot on his copybook.
The Foxes paid a then-club-record fee of £16 million to sign the jet-heeled winger during their brief spell as Premier League champions but, just 21 games and two goals later, Leicester decided to cut their losses by accepting an offer from Al-Nassr.
He may be a free agent and still young at 28 but would Newcastle, West Ham, Sheffield United and co really be willing to hand a second chance to a man who previously failed to make the grade in England’s top flight?
TEAMtalk add that Burnley and Crystal Palace have also been offered the opportunity to snap up a free agent desperate to make up for lost time on European soil.
No one can question Musa’s ambition and his desire to prove himself in a major league after two years counting the cash in Saudi Arabia. But his less-than-impressive Premier League record could count against him.
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