Axel Witsel - biography, personal life and interesting facts from the life of a football player. Witsel refused Juventus and moved from Zenit to China What country does Witsel play for

- Axel, the media have been writing all summer that you will leave Zenit before the transfer window closes. You have already been matched at Inter, and at Juventus, and at Napoli, and at Everton. Please clarify the situation.

– So you just stay in the “Zenith” for this season?

- In theory, where would you prefer one day to go to play, if you have a desire: to Italy or England?

I don't really have any preferences. But if one day I find myself in one of the top clubs in England or Italy, it will not make much difference to me, because this is the elite.

- "Zenith" has long accustomed fans to performances in the Champions League. This year we will have to play in the Europa League. How hard is that for you?

Of course, for such a big club as Zenit, this has a negative effect. I think Zenit should play in the Champions League every year. Unfortunately, we did not perform very well in the championship. In my opinion, our main goal is to go all the way and reach the Europa League final. It is clear that everyone wants to get into the Champions League, but this year we no longer have a choice, so now we have to focus on the championship, and next year try to get into the Champions League.

– Will “Zenith” fight for victory in the Europa League?

Yes, of course, I think that the team has all the necessary qualities for this.

- Do you agree that after the departure of the Hulk to China, it was you who became the main face of our championship?

Undoubtedly, being a star is an honor for me. But at the same time, this imposes an additional responsibility, which, however, I am ready to bear. Of course, after the departure of the Hulk, we lost one of the best strikers in the world and, of course, this affected the team. Now we must definitely find some kind of collective solution so that this does not affect the matches.

– Do you think you will stay in “Zenith” after the expiration of the contract?

I don't know... However, "never say never". Today I am completely focused on the current season, I want to give it my all, and as for what will happen next, we will wait and see.

- Do you remember the balls against Spartak especially?

Every goal scored is special for a footballer. But, of course, the goal against Spartak was even something more for me, because this is a strong opponent.

Why have Zenit so far failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League? This problem has not been solved for many years ...

I don't know, I can say that when I came, the team was not in the best shape. Of course, every time there are some difficulties, plus do not forget about luck. Nevertheless, last year we won five out of six matches in the group, and I am sure that if we continue to make efforts, then we have every chance of reaching the quarterfinals.

– Who is the strongest opponent of “Zenith” in the current season of the championship of Russia?

We always have to be very careful with CSKA. Because they are always somewhere near us. And ... I don’t even know, Krasnodar is playing well. And, of course, Spartak.

Do you know why we lost? Slutsky made a strange choice, relied on the young players of CSKA, leaving experienced fighters in reserve ...

I also did not understand why they showed the worst result in the group. After all, this team consists of very good players. Maybe they need a change too. I personally think that young players should be trusted. The Belgian team, for example, has quite a lot of talent.

I know that you spent your holiday before the new season in Sardinia. Did the Italian journalists pester you there? There were news every day that representatives of various clubs were visiting you.

To be honest, I didn't notice any paparazzi. I had a good time with my wife and daughter, we had a great vacation, and I did not see journalists. It was a relaxing holiday.

Axel Witsel is one of the most successful Belgian players of today. But it's no secret that he didn't immediately become a star - he had to make an impressive journey before he could reach the highest level. And if you do not know the history of this football player, then with the help of this article you can get to know her. You will find out which clubs Axel Witsel played for, what he achieved with them, what are his achievements in the national team and much more.

Carier start

Axel Witsel was born on January 12, 1989 in Belgium and for a long time was not considered by football schools as a promising player. Only at a fairly adult age, at the age of fifteen, he began to consistently and well show himself at the academy of the main club of his hometown of Liege (Standard), thanks to which he received an invitation to the youth team. There he spent two years before he came of age in 2006 - then he was offered a professional contract, which he immediately signed. It was then that Axel Witsel became a professional football player, but he was not one of those brilliant young athletes who are bought for tens of millions already at the age of 18. He had a lot of work to do on himself.

Playing for Standard

In his first season, Axel did not get enough playing practice as he was still too young, but he was given many chances to show himself. And, of course, he took advantage of them. Axel Witsel is a football player who always fights to the last. For a long time he was considered one of the best central midfielders in the world, but he could not have achieved this if he had not given all the best at Standard. There he spent five seasons, during which he played 183 matches and scored 42 goals. The third season was the most successful, as it was largely thanks to the efforts of the rising genius that the club reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League. However, there was a failure in the Belgian Championship - after winning the previous year, Standard took only sixth place. In his last season for this club, Witsel managed to win the Belgian Cup, so he moved with peace of mind in 2011 to Lisbon's Benfica, who paid nine million euros for him.

Transfer to Benfica

It was in Benfica, where Axel Witsel, whose photographs began to appear everywhere in Belgian and foreign football magazines, got at the age of 22, he began to reveal himself as a real football genius. Largely thanks to him, the Portuguese club was able to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League, as well as take second place in the Portuguese Championship. However, it turned out that for Witsel, this club turned out to be just a stepping stone to a great future, because Zenit St. Petersburg entered the game, which, thanks to the sponsorship of Gazprom, had much more money than Benfica. Therefore, the Russian club was able to offer the Portuguese player as much as forty million euros, which is more than four times what Benfica paid Standard a year earlier. Zenit attracted Witsel himself with an impressive salary, so in 2012 Axel was transferred to a new club.

Leader of the Zenith

What could achieve in the new club Axel Witsel? Zenit is one of the strongest Russian football clubs, so not only Axel turned out to be among the strongest legionnaires - the St. Petersburg team carried out another multimillion-dollar transfer that summer, signing a contract with the Brazilian striker Hulk. Witsel was lucky - his compatriot had already played in Zenit and there were also two Portuguese - Bruno Alves and Liush Neto. Considering that Axel spent the last year in Portugal, this helped him settle into the club and quickly become one of the leaders in midfield.

For four seasons as part of the Russian team, Axel played 156 matches, scoring 26 goals. The most successful season can be considered the 14/15 season, when Zenit finally managed to win the Russian Championship after two years with silver medals, as well as reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League, where the club lost to the future winner of the tournament, the Spanish Sevilla. In early August of this year, rumors appeared that Witsel Axel was leaving Zenit - Juventus from Turin repeatedly approached the Russian club with a transfer offer. But Axel decided that he would be better off where he had already played for four years, so he did not go to Italy and would continue to play for Zenit.

Performances for the national team

Axel Witsel is one of the key players in the Belgian national team - only Jan Vertonghen has more appearances for the team than him. Witsel played 74 matches for the national team, making his debut in its composition back in 2008 in a friendly match against Italy.

Unfortunately, the days of a strong Belgian team have passed, and then the team could not get into any major tournament - in 2008, 2010 and 2012, the Belgians remained outside the World and European Championships. And only in 2014, when a new generation of talented football players arrived, the Belgian team made it to the World Cup, where they managed to go quite far right away - to the quarterfinals. Witsel played in two of the three group matches, as well as in both play-off confrontations, including in the quarter-final match, where the Belgians lost to the future finalists - the Argentines.

In March 2016, Axel led his team to the field for the first time in a friendly match against Portugal with on hand. As for the 2016 European Championship, here the Belgians only managed to repeat their achievement in 2014 - they reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to the dark horse team of Wales. This time, Witsel played all the matches "from bell to bell", scoring in the group stage of the Irish national team.

Achievements

During his long career, Axel Witsel twice became the champion of Belgium with Standard and won the Belgian Cup once with the same club. With Benfica, in one year he managed to win only the League Cup, but with Zenit he managed to win the Russian Championship once and the Russian Cup once.

→ Poll: how do you feel about Axel Witsel's decision to move to a Chinese club instead of Juventus?

Money is important to everyone. The most fashionable now is to accuse Witsel of self-interest. Like, Axel thinks only about the dough, nothing else worries him in life, he signed a death warrant for his career and further on the indictment list. But in the history of any footballer, many people forget one simple thing: everyone cares about money. Absolutely everyone. Regardless of earnings and the number of loaves of black bread / luxury villas and islands.

If you are paid 30 thousand rubles a month, you probably want 40. For starters. If you are paid 300 a month, you aim to earn 400. If you are paid 3 million euros a year, you are thinking about a salary of 4 million.

If you earn 30 thousand - then you want 40. If 3 million - you want 4

Clearly, already a long time ago a rich comrade, a true millionaire who can afford anything. He does not look at promotional goods in stores and does not look for the cheapest trip to Turkey/Egypt once a year. Money will not improve the quality of his life, but it certainly will not be superfluous.

It's perfectly normal to accept a salary of 15 million euros a year. Moreover, the figure without possible bonuses.

The easiest way is to accuse a person of self-interest, it is more difficult to understand that Axel is just thinking logically. If a

you are offered crazy money and at the same time you will earn it without straining, what's the point of refusing? To become a knight on a white horse? Witsel hardly cares about comments on Russian sports websites.

And now the most important thing.

After all, we have not only just learned: for Witsel, money is more important than ambition. Was it really not clear when the Belgian agreed to play for Zenit? It's great to love our Russian football, but let's look at things adequately. Zenit has never been a club stronger, more promising or more ambitious than Benfica. The Portuguese project is one of the most famous in the world, besides, they regularly go to top clubs from there. And moving from Benfica to Zenit is certainly not a step forward.

In 2012, Witsel stepped forward only financially. This is not an accusation, this is a fact.

For six years in European football, Axel showed his level to everyone. Everyone, including yourself. And Witsel was a star only on the price tag. But not in the game at all. No, Witsel did not fail at Zenit - by no means, he was a systematizing and damn important player.

Do you really think Juventus couldn't see their future without Axel?

However, in the bottom line, Witsel is a good, high-quality football player of the European level. But no more.

He has enough disadvantages - from slowness to dubious defensive skills, although he uses his advantages perfectly. We do not live in the 90s, so that any transfer to a “famous European club” is perceived as something incredible, amazing, insanely honorable.

Yes, Witsel was on the Juventus shortlist. Yes, the “old lady” almost bought Axel back in the summer, but it was not her fault that the transfer fell through at the last moment. Yes, and now the Italians offered Witsel a contract. But do you really think Juventus couldn't see their future without Axel (https://www..html)? Wanted him, only him and just him? Did you consider him a top-level football player?

Doubtful. With all due respect to Juventus, there are not high-class players in every position. Juve is a smartly built, drawn team, where the work in the "solo" mode is not at all as important as the overall work.

Witsel would not be a Juventus legend

Witsel certainly would not have become a club legend or leader at Juventus. Therefore, Juve does not suffer because of the disrupted transfer. I would have suffered - I would certainly have found ways to persuade Witsel to move to Italy.

But it didn't take much.

Witsel's transition does not need to be made into a drama and a soap opera. One good European club was negotiating with Axel. The Belgian chose the Asian, more financially advantageous option.

Juventus will now find another player in midfield. Certainly no worse than Witsel. And Axel will earn money for all his "great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren."

That's all.

The name of the Chinese team is not just mentioned once in the article. It doesn't matter at all. A man who honestly played for Zenit for four years is sent to work in China. Great, high paying job. And what is Witsel's fault here?

Witsel has been talking for years about his desire to play in the top league, and at the last moment he didn’t give a damn about the agreement with Juventus and fled to China. Soccer.ru is indignant.

“I think that those who can be poached with big money have no character.”

Jürgen Klopp

Witsel is a man without character. According to leading football experts. It's just that Jurgen Klopp speaks directly and bluntly. In fact, this is the second time in his career that Axel has opted for money, which underlines the level of his football professionalism and unwillingness to progress. The transition to Zenit is also from this cohort, although four years ago the Belgian could have ended up, for example, at Manchester United. But St. Petersburg, at least in Europe, "blue-white-blue" is a potential flagship of the Premier League and a permanent participant in the Champions League.

“When I came to Zenit, I thought that I would stay here for three years and move to a European top club. I've been here for almost five years, but I'm happy."

Such a compromise could be understood, especially at that time the 23-year-old midfielder was aware that the peak of his career was ahead, and he would still have time to move to the top championship, having strengthened himself in Russia. And having earned - not without it. Naturally, money was one of the most important arguments. But Axel continued to talk about his dream, in his game and comments between the lines read: "I'm passing through here." And now, in the prime of his football prowess and the ideal age for a new challenge - on the verge of his 28th birthday, Witsel, having an offer from Juventus in his hands, where the player was still in his thoughts last summer, chooses China and money over Scudetto and participation in the Champions League.

“Axel Witsel from Zenit or Hector Herrera from Porto? Of course, I choose Herrera!”

Maurizio Sarri

Maurizio Sarri can be considered one of the first who saw through Witsel. At the beginning of the summer, Napoli agreed with Zenit on the transfer of the midfielder, but the Neapolitan mentor told Aurelio De Laurentiis that he could not guarantee the Belgian a place in the first team, and the deal fell through, since it was not possible to spend 25 million euros on the Napoli bench player. made up my mind. What exactly Sarri had in mind is, of course, a question. Either the coach was not impressed with Axel's playing characteristics, or it's all about the lack of football passion and lack of independence. When the Belgian was still playing at Benfica, a Manchester United scout looked over him and collected information about his psychological portrait off the field. It turned out that Witsel, with all his playing merits, is categorically not suitable for the role of leader, permanently chooses the path of least resistance and is too dependent on the opinions of his surroundings. Moving to China is a vivid example of the fact that during the time in St. Petersburg, Axel has not changed at all mentally.

“Witsel at Zenith can be replaced by anyone. His game at the European Championship is a disaster. He doesn't score, he doesn't protect, he doesn't work at high speeds."

Vlastimil Petrzhela

Witsel is a strong football player without pronounced strengths. Axel knows how to play with minimal defects in passes, make "square" balls round and address them to partners, but he often lacks stability, endurance and constancy. The Belgian rarely approached his maximum at Zenit, and at Juventus they probably counted on an increase in concentration, since the player was so eager to get into the top championship. Since the time of the Standard, the nickname "Shalup" has been attached to Axel. This is a wooden fishing boat that sails slowly and relaxed, swaying indifferently on the waves. Witsel insists that this is due to his demeanor in everyday life, but if you have seen many matches of the Belgian, you will agree that this is a very accurate description of his football image.

“It was because, on the one hand, there was such a great team and a top club like Juventus, but on the other hand, an offer for my family that I could not refuse. I want to apologize to Juventus. I'm sorry, but such proposals are not rejected.

To paraphrase Witsel: on the one hand, it’s a pity for Juventus, who wasted so much time on the transfer of a midfielder, and on the other hand, now in Turin they should exhale calmly that fate saved them from acquiring a football player for whom sport and achieving results are not in the first place. "Old Signora" midfielder Thomas Rincon from Genoa. Everything turned out well for Zenit, which will earn decent money on the transfer of a player whose contract expires in six months, and in terms of football, Lucescu will be more useful in the center of the field in the spring with motivation and a desire to win. Witsel, meanwhile, will earn capital for his family - he was offered 18 million euros a year. Of course, the salary is astronomical, about four times what Juventus offered.

“The truly great athletes are altruists. For them, there is only the maximum result, only the achievement of high goals - winning the Champions League, for example.

Anatoly Byshovets

And in China, among other things, you don’t really need to strain yourself, and even if you can live luxuriously in Europe for 4.5 million euros a year, playing at the highest level, you can buy yourself an extra island. Why does Witsel cause hatred? Because he didn't care about football, after all, it’s not about a 35-year-old veteran who decided to earn extra money in his old age. If the Belgian had always said: “The goal of my career is to earn as much money as possible in order to ensure the comfortable existence of my family,” then now there would be no questions for him. But Axel turned out to be a hypocrite: he talked about top clubs and his ambition, but when the choice arose between the hegemon of Serie A and huge money from an artificially inflated league, he chose China and millions. Witsel betrayed football as soon as he received an "impossible to refuse" offer, and traitors do not deserve respect.