Australia veteran Mark Milligan has revealed the motivation behind his departure for Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli.
The 32-year-old midfielder departed Melbourne Victory during the January transfer window to join to Saudi giants Al-Ahli.
However, Milligan insisted that his moves had not been only for money.
“I found out until later that the deal had been around for quite a while but no one had brought it to me,” Milligan said ahead of Saturday’s friendly in Norway, as quoted by SBS The World Game.
“When it did come about I spoke to Kevin Muscat but the offer wasn’t suitable for everybody so I left it. It was out of my hands.
“Something else then came through on Saturday night and the club agreed to terms. By Monday morning I was off. That’s football.”
On the other hand, Milligan believes that working with Bert van Marwijk – the national team coach who knows Saudi soccer well will enhance his chances of making his fourth World Cup.
“They speak very highly of him, they were very unhappy that he left. He brought in a cultural change in a football sense. The way they do things and prepare. There are 11 boys in and around the national team at my club and they speak very highly of him,” he added.
