Alex Song says he quit Arsenal for money to ‘shop wherever I want and have crazy nights out’

Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song says he joined Barcelona from the Gunners to become a millionaire to “shop wherever I want and have crazy nights out”.

The ex-West Ham ace fired an astonishing broadside at Arsenal, saying he didn’t “give a f***” that he would be sitting on the bench in Catalonia.

The Cameroonian added that he wanted his wife and children to be comfortable after he retired.

Song joined Arsenal from Bastia in 2006 for £1million, and even though he spent the first year on loan at Charlton, he returned to establish himself as a regular player under Arsene Wenger.

He made a total of 133 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, scoring seven goals in that period.

His best season was in 2012, where he played 24 league games and registered 11 assists, helping Arsenal to a third place finish in the Premier League.

Barcelona came calling that season, and despite huge resistance from Arsenal, the Cameroonian joined the Spanish side and more than doubled his wages.

He spent most of his time in Spain sitting on the bench, but said he “didn’t give a f***” in an explosive Instagram post.

He said: “When Barcelona offered me a contract, and I saw how much I would earn, I didn’t think twice.

“I felt my wife and children should have comfortable lives once my career is over.

“I met Barca’s sporting director, and he told me I would not get to play many games, but I didn’t give a f*** – I knew that now I would become a millionaire.

“I wanted to rub shoulders with the big boys.

“I could shop wherever I wanted and have crazy nights out.

He even revealed he copied the super car Thierry Henry had.

“I would go to training and see Thierry Henry - the King - turn up in an absolute gem of a car,” Song said.

“I told myself I wanted the same car at all costs.

“I went to the dealership, signed the papers and arranged to pay for it by standing order - and just like that I had the same car as The King.

“But I swear that I had to hand the car back inside in two months. All my money was going to fill it with petrol.

“I told them: ‘Give me a Toyota - this car’s too much for me.’

Cheering for his country Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations, Song now plays his football in Djibouti with Arta/Solar and is often seen at the stadium supporting the host nation as he was left out of the team.

Arsenal fans will remember his first goal for the club in the 6-3 win over Liverpool in the League Cup to help the Gunners progress to the quarter final in January 2007.