Lukas Podolski has no plans to hang up his boots just yet because, despite being 36, the German feels he has another one or two years left in him and has signed a deal in Poland.
Former Arsenal front man and fan favourite, Lukas Podolski, was released by Antalyaspor, at the end of his contract and I did wonder if he might consider retiring this summer like Johan Djourou, 34, and Nicklas Bendter, 33.
I should have known Podolski wouldn’t want to stop.
“For me, it’s about playing another year or two, having fun and living in a good city,” Podolski told the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, via Sport1 not long after he left Turkey.
“Clubs always get in touch. In the end, it is important for me that the overall picture fits. The city, the club, the concept. I am now 36 years old, so it is clear that I will not make the jump to an absolute top club again.
Asked about a possible return to the club of his heart, FC Koln, Podolski said, “In recent years there have always been people who have prevented that. I never wanted to force it, but was open to it. Things will not collapse for me now if it does not work.”
Having already played in Germany, England, Italy, Turkey and Japan, Mexico looked like it could be the next country to get the Lukas Podolski experience .
Queretaro, who play in the top tier of Mexican football, Liga MX, were quite keen on signing the forward.
Signing big names is not out of the ordinary for Queretaro who landed Ronaldinho in 2014 while Antonio Valencia played for them last season before he also retired.
They got impatient, however, when Podolski didn’t take up their offer right away, so they withdrew it.
Now, the German has signed a one-year contract with Gornik Zabrze that comes with the option of another year.
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Podolski will wear the number 10 shirt.
“What a pity”: Lukas Podolski hits out after release
Lukas Podolski did not approve of how they went Antalyaspor letting him know he’d been released.
Lukas Podolski joined the Turkish side in January 2020, moving on a free from Vissel Kobe in Japan when his contract expired.
Scoring seven goals with five assists (and picking up seven bookings) in 47 games, and averaging just under 60 minutes per appearance, it’s not clear what Podolski will do now, but what is clear is that he’s not happy with the senior management at Antalyaspor.
Taking to Twitter, Poldi wrote, “A farewell worthy of his name should have been made for every player who has shed sweat for Antalyaspor. I expected our senior executives to thank me personally, rather than through social media. What a pity.”
Podolski then added, “But still, thank you very much to the fans of this beautiful city who have always given their support…
Ama yine de hiçbir zaman desteklerini esirgemeyen bu güzel şehrin taraftarlarına her şey için çok teşekkürler…
— Lukas-Podolski.com (@Podolski10) June 3, 2021
The German turned 36 on 4 June but, knowing his love for playing football, it is not a surprise to see him rock up in yet another country as he tries to eek out a little more time at the end of his playing career.
At Arsenal, Podolski scored 31 goals, with 17 assists, in 82 games, before being sent on loan to Inter Milan. Arsenal then sold him to Galatasaray for £2.25m where he stayed for two years before heading to Japan for £2.34m.