Don't make Steffan Effenberg angry, you wouldn't like him when he's angry.
One of the more iconic players of European '90s football, Effenberg was well known for his all-action midfield playing style as well as his fiery German temper, which it appears has not deserted him in his retirement.
When asked about former Bayern Munich player Xherdan Shaqiri's decision to leave Germany, despite an offer from Schalke, and join Stoke City, Effenberg made it perfectly clear that he doesn't approve, and has questioned what football has become.
I do not understand Shaqiri's move to Stoke at all. You have been badly advised if you go there. You have to ask yourself where you can reach your sporting goals as a footballer. That should be the challenge. Schalke would have been perfect for Shaqiri.
Earning €1 million more or less should be irrelevant. When you can make €6 million at Stoke or €3m at Schalke, you pick the latter. You play Bundesliga football in a great stadium, get your desired return to Germany and play for a great club that you can help move forward.
But Stoke? Come on, I cannot understand the player, his agent, his parents or his brother. This is a shame and a sad state of affairs. Only because they are throwing around cash? Is it really all about money for footballers these days?
A sad state of affairs according to Stefan, and the Stoke fans who bought Shaqiri's new shirt in record breaking time won't be happy with those comments, but does Effenberg have a point?
Perhaps he is only looking at the situation through Bundesliga-tinted glasses but to reject European footbal in order to move to the glamorous Stoke-on-Trent is not something that happens very often.
via Goal.com
