Saturday, 18th October, 2014



Midfielder Karim El Ahmadi, who returned to the Netherlands with former club Feyenoord this summer, has advised youngsters against moving to England.

The Morocco international left Feyenoord in 2012 to join Premier League outfit Aston Villa, clocking up 51 league appearances for the Midlands club over the course of two years.




He called time on his Villa Park stint this summer to head home, having been born in the Netherlands, and has some strong words for young talents thinking about quickly upping sticks and heading to the Promised Land of the Premier League.

"My advice? Don't go before you are 23 because you'll drown there", the 29-year-old explained to TC/Tubantia.

 


"All those teenagers who went to England….who has broken through there now?" he mused.

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"Generally footballers leave the Netherlands too soon.

"In England they have no time to invest in young players. It is just about performing to win.

"They have a squad of 32 men, with almost only internationals and with you there are ten others waiting."

El Ahmadi started his career at FC Twente before joining Feyenoord in 2008. He spent time on loan at Middle East outfit Al Ahli in 2011 and sealed a switch to Aston Villa one year later.

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