
Former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf has criticised Jhon Duran for making what he calls an “insane” decision to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr instead of continuing his career in European football.
The 21-year-old Colombian forward completed his move from Aston Villa to the Saudi club on Friday for an undisclosed fee, though reports suggest the deal was worth around €77 million plus add-ons.
Aston Villa confirmed the transfer in a statement:
“Aston Villa can confirm that Jhon Duran has joined Al Nassr for an undisclosed fee. Everyone at Aston Villa would like to wish Jhon all the best in the next step of his professional career.”
Duran, who was linked with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United, had been tipped for a move to a top European club after impressing in the Premier League. However, instead of making a step up, he has now committed the peak years of his career to the Saudi Pro League, where he will play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané.
Leboeuf was left stunned by the decision and voiced his frustration on ESPN FC:
“At 20, no way, never! Why do you want to leave top-level football? That’s insane.”
He went on to argue that the Saudi Pro League is more suited for aging stars rather than young players with bright futures.
“You have to have in your blood the love of football. With all due respect to the Saudi League, it’s for almost retired players. I did that in Qatar, the same in the MLS, we’ve seen that before in Japan. It’s not for a 20-year-old.”
Leboeuf pointed out the difficulties of returning to Europe after such a move, referencing Jean Onana’s struggles after leaving Saudi Arabia for Rennes.
“There are people who will say he can come back. We had Fofana go from Lens to Saudi Arabia and then back to Rennes. It doesn’t work because it’s too hard, you drop your level.”
The former Chelsea defender also questioned why Duran would reject a move to Stamford Bridge:
“The Premier League is different, so much faster, much more tactical. When you leave to go there when you have a chance to join another club—I thought he would be a possibility to go to Chelsea, I heard that at some point—why do you want to go there?”
Leboeuf concluded his rant by blasting Duran’s representatives for allowing the move to happen:
“That’s not the thing to do right now. You have to think about football and the love of football and the fact you play at the top level. That’s irresponsible from his agent to have pushed him to go there.”
With Chelsea in need of attacking reinforcements, the Blues may regret missing out on Duran, but for now, the young striker has chosen the financial rewards of Saudi Arabia over the competitive demands of European football.
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