Where is Witsel? Witsel refused Juventus and moved from Zenit to China. Transfer to Benfica

Axel Witsel is one of the most successful Belgian players of our time. But it's no secret that he did not immediately become a star - he had to go through an impressive path before he could reach the highest level. And if you don’t know the history of this football player, then with the help of this article you can get acquainted with it. You will find out which clubs Axel Witsel played for, what he achieved with them, what his achievements were 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 mature age, at the age of fifteen, he began to show himself consistently and well in the academy of the main club of his hometown of Liege (Standard), thanks to which he received an invitation to the youth team. He spent two years there before reaching adulthood in 2006, when 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, already at the age of 18, are bought for tens of millions. He had a lot of work to do on himself.

Playing for Standard

In his first season, Axel did not receive enough playing practice, as he was still too young, but he was given many chances to prove himself. And he, naturally, 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 his all at Standard. There he spent five seasons, during which he played 183 matches and scored 42 goals. The third season became the most successful, as largely thanks to the efforts of the rising genius, the club reached the quarterfinals 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 Benfica Lisbon, who paid nine million euros for him.

Transfer to Benfica

It was at Benfica, where Axel Witsel, whose photographs began to appear everywhere in Belgian and foreign football magazines, arrived at the age of 22, that he began to emerge as a real football genius. Largely thanks to him, the Portuguese club was able to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League, as well as take second place in the Portuguese Championship. However, it turned out that for Witsel this club was only a stepping stone to a great future, because Zenit St. Petersburg entered the game, which, thanks to Gazprom’s sponsorship, 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 to Standard a year earlier. Witsel himself was attracted by Zenit with an impressive salary, so in 2012 Axel was transferred to a new club.

Leader of Zenit

What could Axel Witsel achieve at the new club? “Zenit” is one of the strongest Russian football clubs, so Axel was not the only strong foreign player there - that summer the St. Petersburg team made another multimillion-dollar transfer, signing a contract with the Brazilian forward Hulk. Witsel was lucky - his compatriot was already playing at Zenit and there were also two Portuguese there - Bruno Alves and Lios Neto. Considering that Axel spent the last year in Portugal, this helped him settle into the club and quickly become one of the leaders of the midfield.

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

Performances for the national team

Axel Witsel is one of the key players of 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 back in 2008 in a friendly match against the Italian national team.

Unfortunately, the times of the strong Belgian national team are over, and then the team could not get to 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 national team made it to the World Cup, where it managed to immediately go quite far - to the quarterfinals. Witsel played in two of the three group matches, as well as in both playoff matches, including the quarter-final match, where the Belgians lost to eventual finalists Argentina.

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

Achievements

During his long career, Axel Witsel became the Belgian champion twice 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 already managed to win the Russian Championship once and the Russian Cup once.

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

- So you are definitely staying at Zenit for this season?

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

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

- Zenit has long accustomed fans to playing in the Champions League. This year we will have to play in the Europa League. How big of a blow is this for you?

Of course, this has a negative impact on such a big club as Zenit. I think that Zenit should play in the Champions League every year. Unfortunately, we didn't do very well in the championship. In my opinion, our main goal is to go to the end 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 Zenit fight for victory in the Europa League?

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

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

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

- Do you think you will stay at Zenit after the contract expires?

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

- Do you especially remember the goals against Spartak?

Every goal scored is special for a football player. But, of course, the goal against Spartak was even something more for me, because they are a strong opponent.

Why has Zenit never managed to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League? No one has solved this problem for many years...

I don’t know, I can say that when I arrived, the team was not in the best shape. Of course, every time there are some difficulties, plus we must not forget about luck. However, last year we won five out of six matches in the group, and I am confident that if we continue to make efforts, we have every chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

- Who is Zenit’s strongest opponent in the current Russian Championship?

We always need 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, relying on young CSKA players, leaving experienced fighters in reserve...

I also didn’t understand why they showed the worst result in the group. After all, this team consists of very good players. Maybe they need change too. I personally think you need to trust young players. The Belgian team, for example, has quite a lot of talent.

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

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

Performances for the national team

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

Unfortunately, the times of the strong Belgian national team are over, and then the team could not get to 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, did she make it to the World Championship, where she managed to immediately go quite far - to the quarterfinals. Witsel played in two of the three group matches, as well as in both playoff matches, including the quarter-final match, where the Belgians lost to the eventual finalists, the Argentines.

In March 2016, Axel led his team onto the field for the first time in a friendly match against him with the captain's armband. As for the 2016 European Championship, here the Belgians only managed to repeat their achievement of 2014 - they reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to the dark horse, the Welsh team. This time, Witsel played all the matches from bell to bell, scoring against Ireland in the group stage.

Club career

A graduate of the Liège Standard school, he made his debut for the club on September 17, 2006, coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute for Steven Defour. He established himself in the club in the 2007/08 season, forming a team together with Steven Defour and Marouane Fellaini in the center of the club's midfield. At the end of the season, he received the prize for the best young footballer and the prize for footballer of the year - the Golden Boot. The following season, his goal from the penalty spot helped Standard win the national championship.

On August 30, 2009, Witsel caused a dangerous injury to Marcin Wasilewski in a match against Anderlecht: the Pole suffered an open fracture of his leg. Witsel was immediately removed from the field, he was suspended for an indefinite period, and threats began to come against him from Anderlecht fans and Polish teams. Only after a trial in the Royal Football Association was the period of disqualification reduced to 8 games.

On July 13, 2011, he signed a contract with Benfica. He established himself in the team and became an almost irreplaceable player.

On September 3, 2012 he moved to Zenit. He made his debut for the St. Petersburg club on September 14 in a match with Terek. He was injured in the match and was out of the game for a long time. It didn’t take long before he joined the team and became a player in the main squad. On November 30, 2012, in a match against Spartak, he made a double, scoring his first goals for Zenit.

Axel's achievements

Belgium Footballer of the Year (2008)
Belgian Young Footballer of the Year (2007−2008)
Belgian Champion (2007/2008, 2008/2009)
Belgian Cup winner (2010/2011)
Winner of the Belgian Super Cup (2008,2009)
Winner of the Portuguese League Cup (2011/2012)
Silver medalist of the Russian Football Championship (2012/2013)

Personal life

His father is Martinican and his mother is Belgian. Rafaella Szabo, Axel's girlfriend, gave birth to a daughter, Mai-Li, on April 1, 2015. On June 13, 2015, the wedding ceremony of Axel and Rafaella took place in St. Petersburg.

Axel Witsel received a call to the national team for the 2018 World Cup

Former Zenit midfielder, now playing for Tianjin, Axel Witsel thanked the coaching staff for the call to the Belgian national team. The footballer wrote on his Instagram that he is grateful for the chance and promises to give his all on the field one hundred percent.

“It is an honor and a duty for me to represent the Belgian national team,” Witsel wrote. “I feel proud and grateful that I was called to the team.” I will give my hundred percent in the national team jersey to achieve our goals.

Witsel spoke for years about his desire to play in a top championship, and at the last moment he disregarded the agreement with Juventus and fled to China. Soccer.ru is indignant.

“I believe that those who can be lured away with big money have no character.”

Jürgen Klopp

Witsel is a man without character. According to leading football experts. Jurgen Klopp just speaks directly and without mincing words. In fact, Axel chooses money for the second time in his career, which emphasizes the level of his football professionalism and reluctance to progress. The move to Zenit is also from this cohort, although four years ago the Belgian could have ended up, for example, in Manchester United. But St. Petersburg is at least in Europe, the “blue-white-blue” is the potential flagship of the RFPL 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 top European club. I’ve been here for almost five years now, but I’m happy.”

Such a compromise could be understood, especially since 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 in Russia. And having earned money - 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 it was read between the lines: “I’m passing through here.” And now, in the prime of his football skills and the ideal age for a new challenge - on the threshold of his 28th birthday, Witsel, having in his hands an offer from Juventus, where the player was in thoughts last summer, chooses China and money instead of 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 to figure out Witsel. At the beginning of the summer, Napoli agreed with Zenit on the transfer of the midfielder, but the Neapolitan coach informed Aurelio De Laurentiis that he could not guarantee the Belgian a place in the main team, and the deal fell through, since it was not possible to spend 25 million euros on a Napoli bench player made up his mind. What exactly Sarri meant is, of course, a question. Either the coach was not impressed with Axel’s playing characteristics, or the whole point was a lack of football passion and lack of independence. When the Belgian was still playing for Benfica, a Manchester United scout looked at him and collected information about his psychological profile off the field. It turned out that Witsel, for all his playing merits, is categorically unsuitable for the role of leader, permanently chooses the path of least resistance and is too dependent on the opinions of his environment. Moving to China is a clear example of the fact that during his time in St. Petersburg, Axel did not change at all mentally.

“Anyone can replace Witsel at Zenit. His performance at the European Championships was a disaster. He doesn’t score, he doesn’t perform defensive functions, he doesn’t work at high speeds.”

Vlastimil Petrzhela

Witsel is a strong footballer with no obvious strengths. Axel knows how to play with minimal defects in passes, make “square” balls round and address them to his partners, but he often lacks stability, endurance and constancy. The Belgian rarely approached his maximum at Zenit, and Juventus probably counted on an increase in concentration, since the player was so eager to get into the top championship. Ever since the days of “Standard”, the nickname “Shalup” has been attached to Axel. This is a fishing boat made of wood that floats 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 of the Belgian’s matches, you will agree that this is a very apt description of his football image.

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

To paraphrase Witsel: on the one hand, it’s a pity for Juventus, which wasted so much time on the transfer of a midfielder, and on the other hand, Turin should now breathe a sigh of relief that fate spared them from acquiring a football player for whom sports and achieving results are not in the first place. "Old Lady" by midfielder Tomas Rincón 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 football terms in the spring, Lucescu will be more useful in the center of the field as a midfielder with motivation and the desire to win. Witsel, meanwhile, will earn capital for his family - he was offered 18 million euros per year. Of course, the salary is astronomical, about four times more than what Juventus offered.

“Truly great athletes are altruists. For them there is only the maximum result, only achieving 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 with 4.5 million euros a year, playing at the highest level, you will buy yourself an extra island. Why does Witsel cause hatred? Because he didn't care about football, after all, we’re not talking about a 35-year-old veteran who decided to earn extra money in his old age. If a Belgian had always said: “The goal of my career is to earn as much money as possible in order to ensure a comfortable existence for my family,” then now there would be no questions for him. But Axel turned out to be a hypocrite: he chatted about top clubs and his ambition, but when the choice was 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 offer he could not refuse, and traitors do not deserve respect.

→ 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 thing now is to accuse Witsel of self-interest. They say that Axel only thinks about money, he doesn’t care about anything else in life, he signed the death warrant for his career and further on the indictment list. But in the history of any football player, many 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

It’s clear that he’s been a rich comrade for a long time, a true millionaire who can afford anything. He doesn’t look at promotional items in stores and doesn’t look for the cheapest trip to Turkey/Egypt once a year. Money won't improve his quality of life, but it certainly won't be unnecessary.

It is completely normal to agree to a salary of 15 million euros per year. Moreover, the figure does not include possible bonuses.

It’s easiest to blame a person for self-interest, but it’s harder to understand that Axel is just reasoning logically. If

They offer you 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 sites.

And now the most important thing.

We haven’t just learned: for Witsel, money is more important than ambition. Wasn’t this 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 stronger, more promising or more ambitious club than Benfica. The Portuguese project is one of the most famous in the world, and they regularly move to top clubs from there. And moving from Benfica to Zenit is certainly not a step forward.

In 2012, Witsel moved forward only financially. This is not an accusation, it is a fact.

In six years in European football, Axel has shown everyone his level. Everyone, including themselves. And Witsel was a star only because of the price tag. But not at all about the game. No, Witsel did not fail at Zenit - by no means, he was a systematizing player and damn important.

Do you really think that Juventus did not see their future without Axel?

However, the bottom line is that Witsel is a good, high-quality football player of the European level. But nothing more.

He has a lot of disadvantages - from slowness to questionable defensive skills, although he uses his advantages perfectly. We do not live in the 90s, so that any transfer to a “famous European club” should be perceived as something incredible, amazing, incredibly 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 that Juventus did not see its future without Axel (https://www..html)? Did you want him, only him and exactly him? Did you consider him a top-level footballer?

Doubtful. With all due respect to Juventus, they do not have high-class players in every position. “Juve” is a smartly built, well-drawn team, where working in “solo” mode is not at all as important as working together.

Witsel would not have become a Juventus legend

Witsel probably would not have become a club legend or leader at Juventus. Therefore, Juve does not suffer due to the disrupted transfer. If he had suffered, he would probably have found ways to persuade Witsel to move to Italy.

But it wasn’t really necessary.

There is no need to make a drama and a soap opera out of Witsel's transition. One good European club was negotiating with Axel. The Belgian chose the Asian, more financially profitable option.

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

That's all.

The name of the Chinese team is not mentioned even once in the article. It doesn't have any meaning at all. A man who honestly played for Zenit for four years goes to work in China. Cool, well-paid job. And where is Witsel’s fault here?