Tijjani Reijnders has explained why he agreed the transfer to Al Qadsiah this summer, ending his stay at the Etihad after just a single season.
The Dutch midfielder joined the Saudi Pro League side in a deal worth £51 million, following the confirmation of the £51m transfer deal in August, after news of his initial move to Al Qadsiah first broke that same month.
Speaking in an interview with The Independent, Reijnders gave his most detailed account yet of why he wanted to leave the club so soon after arriving. He pointed to his role under Enzo Maresca and to the financial security the move offers his family.
Reijnders’ pre-season realisation
City’s pre-season for the new campaign got underway soon after several first-team players had their international commitments cut short, including Nathan Aké’s early return from the World Cup, which gave Maresca extra time on the training ground with his squad. It was during those sessions that Reijnders felt his situation had not changed.
“In pre-season, I noticed that things were heading in that direction again at City, and I started thinking about whether I wanted another season like that,” Reijnders said. He was blunt about what came next. “The honest answer was no. I wanted to look elsewhere, and then I heard from the club that I was allowed to do so.”
He admitted the decision was not straightforward at first. “I think a lot of people have the idea that your career as a top footballer is over when you make a move like this. I initially felt that way too,” he said.
Frustrations under Maresca…
For City fans trying to make sense of the transfer, his own words point to a clear tactical issue. Reijnders preferred playing as a box-to-box midfielder, covering ground either side of the ball and arriving late into the box. Under Maresca, he was increasingly used in a more advanced, central role, further from the deeper areas where he felt most effective.
That shift in duties, rather than one single incident, appears to have worn him down. It explains why the same pattern returning in pre-season was enough to convince him to ask for a way out.
Brendan Rodgers plan and return to European football
At Al Qadsiah, Reijnders has already discussed his longer-term career plan with head coach Brendan Rodgers. “He said I could have three or four very enjoyable years here and then return to Europe. There are enough examples of that now. That is my goal too,” Reijnders said, setting out a path he has agreed directly with his new coach.
He also rejected the idea that the Saudi Pro League is a step down in quality. “With all the big names, I actually rate the Saudi league higher than the Eredivisie (Dutch league). If people want to judge the football there, they should watch it first,” he said.
Reijnders was equally open about the financial side of the move. “You can always play the moralist, but I think everyone would say yes to that,” he said. He then explained what the deal means for his family long term. “I don’t want to have to work anymore after my career. I didn’t need to after City either, but now I can also set up future generations of my family well.”
He added: “If this choice means my grandchildren can also live comfortably, why wouldn’t I do it?”
