Dejagah: I have no intention to return to Europe

[Keano]

At his age (28) and his current condition I can't really blame him. As much as I would hate to see him playing in Qatar, but I also can understand him. Earning huge $$$ and way more than any other club would pay him, TAX-FREE, getting paid on time, Always sunny sky, his great living standards, the beaches, Relax and much less stressful environment, lower performance expectations as opposed to that of European clubs, etc. All in all make it more enjoyable for our older legionaires to choose these Persian gulf states.

[Z Joon]

Dejagah one of the best players in Iran's history? lol..

Can't deny it I laughed at this part too

[Camran khan]

Here is Fulham players' salaries from the time Dejagah played there. Unfortunately some are left out (one of them is Dejagah), but as we can assume from this list he was making a lot of money back then too, and with the season he played and people were speculating that he would move to a mid table Premier league team, so his salary definately would've increased too! So it's like he was making small amounts of cash.

http://www.tsmplug.com/football/teams/fulham-squad/

How much does he make now in Qatar?

[Camran khan]

Can't deny it I laughed at this part too

Exactly. I rank the likes of Mahdavikia, Daei and Karimi far above him.

[TM homeboy]

Here is Fulham players' salaries from the time Dejagah played there. Unfortunately some are left out (one of them is Dejagah), but as we can assume from this list he was making a lot of money back then too, and with the season he played and people were speculating that he would move to a mid table Premier league team, so his salary definately would've increased too! So it's like he was making small amounts of cash.

http://www.tsmplug.com/football/teams/fulham-squad/

How much does he make now in Qatar?

one thing that attracts athletes to these Persian Gulf Arab states is the no Tax bonus. Where as in Europe on those salaries you're almost paying 50% tax.

[Camran khan]

one thing that attracts athletes to these Persian Gulf Arab states is the no Tax bonus. Where as in Europe on those salaries you're almost paying 50% tax.

Fair point. I would understand though if he made the kind of money which meant that he would have to do other things after his career is over, but those salaries he recieved and would continue to recieve would be more than enough to set him up for life.

[eerooni]

He is 28 and a GOD in Qatar, so why not??!! Like Persian Baller said. hes got the sun the fun and the Mon(ey)!! he gets to start at almost every game, and he is still a great TM player IMO, His runs on the flank are devastating and most of the goals TM scored during AC2015 was due to Askhans play and assists... so as long as he is a beast in TM, then no reason why he should go to Europe and be a bench warmer....Let Arabs worship him as their one true god!...

[Camran khan]

On a related note, and funny at the same time:

https://www.facebook.com/SPORTbible/photos/a.338257439653128.1073741828.338233632988842/926511564161043/

http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/18/sunderlands-steven-fletcher-scores-7-goals-in-two-years-buys-260k-lamborghini-twitter-destroys-him-5109213/

And I guess for you guys who justify this by $$$ seem like you would choose a profession for money, over passion.
For me, personally, and I know that I never have had to make that choice, so no need to point that out, but I would easily choose to play in the premier league with some of the best in the world over Qatar for a better paycheck.

[Kiarash]

You're right. Qatar Stars League is not what our players should aim for but it's not so much different than the IPL (aside from superior facilities). At the end of the day, the QSL is your standard Middle Eastern league where players go as far as they want to.

Lets not forgot the legions of fans saying that Dejagah was the best player against Chile (and this is after nearly a season in Qatar). What's interesting is that it was the first time in a very long time that I saw him play the full 90 minutes without fatigue. I'm not saying this is thanks to the QSL but at least it shows that he's making the effort to stay in top shape.

For the purpose of competition, it's preferable that our players go to Europe but there are those that have ever only played in Iran and Qatar/UAE but have also performed well for Team Melli (i.e. Hosseini, Montazeri).

You make good points which are quite hard to challenge.

But here is my next input brother.

We always make fun of Qatar and ridicule them, but when one of our best players Dejagah is there we find an excuse to make it seem justifiable that he is in Qatar during his prime of his career. This guy just came from years of top flight football, had a relatively OK World Cup and out of nowhere he joins a Qatari team. If this was Masoud, most people would bash the hell out of him. While ironically, he joined a team like Las Palmas for not even half the salary he would get at his former team Osasuna. Why? Just to prove himself, work hard and keep us happy (the Iranian fans). When he really got shitty low-wages offers like from Zaragoza (64K for one season, that's almost playing for free) he opted for Qatar. He preferred Spain after all.

A player like Dejagah can always make decent money after he is done with football. A professional footballer like him with so many years in Bundesliga and BPL has tons of opportunites to make a career after he is done with playing football. To be a successful footballer, playing football for the sake of football is the first priority, IMO.

It pains me the most that a player like Dejagah is in the Qatar Stars League, who are equal to the 3rd division of Germany if you compare the total transfermarkt value of the two leagues. He can do much better but it looks like he lacks ambition and / or motivation. If I hear stories from him regularly smoking ghelyoon and hitting Burger King, I am getting more and more concerned about his future TM performances. I want the best for my players, and if we want to be the best team in Asia who likes to qualify for the next round in a World Cup, we won't get far with players like Dejagah who prefer to live the easy life.

Sure, it's their lives and their careers, but ask yourself the following question: Japan (one of our Asian rivals) do not even have a single player in an Arab league. If we want to be better than them, why do we keep inviting QSL players?

Final thing (not aimed to you but just in general): If we think legionnaires joining Arab teams at their prime is fine, we should lower our expectations for Team Melli. Doing well in a World Cup with players based from Qatar is not a good fundamental to beat decent teams like Holland, England etc.

Just my cents and I honestly believe you have good points as well. Sorry if I made some grammar mistakes, English is my third language.

[Ari]

Dejagah is one of Iran's best footballer. Who denies this fact, doesn't know much of football or at least never followed Ashkan. I followed him since he was 16. He was one the greatest prospects Germany had in his age. It is not for nothing that he played in all of Germanys youth teams. If there wasn't the Israel match, he probably had another story to tell.

[Karimi 8]

Very disappointing but at least he is being honest.

[O-ZoNe]

He is always 1 injury away from retiring, a decent offer away from paying in Europe, and a few birthdays away from being replaced in TM...who knows where life and football will take him. Shab derazeh but he himself may come to a different conclusion after 1 or 2 years in Qatar. Any of you predicted AK8 would return to Germany and join Schalke?

[Ari]

Further on u guys always mention Ali Daei, Azizi, Bagheri, Mahdavikia, Ali Kairmi as Iran's best footballers. But u seem to forget is that they had each other. They were of the same caliber. So what if Dejagah would have played with those guys in those times?

[persianballer]

Here is Fulham players' salaries from the time Dejagah played there. Unfortunately some are left out (one of them is Dejagah), but as we can assume from this list he was making a lot of money back then too, and with the season he played and people were speculating that he would move to a mid table Premier league team, so his salary definately would've increased too! So it's like he was making small amounts of cash.

http://www.tsmplug.com/football/teams/fulham-squad/

How much does he make now in Qatar?

Once you add tax it becomes even less. That's why alot of players in Iran don't come to europe.

[ARYA :)]

To this day he remains the most influential footballer on the pitch for TM, furthermore he is receiving 15 million euros for the 5 years at Al Arabi. I say as long as he delivers for TM nooshe joonesh!!