Super Eagles and Paris FC forward, Moses Simon, has admitted that his biggest career regret was allowing his desire to secure a transfer to affect his performances.
Simon revealed that his pursuit of a move to several top European clubs, including Liverpool, disrupted his form between 2016 and 2018.
The Nigerian international disclosed this during an exclusive interview with Urban Dwell Sport, where he reflected on his football journey, the mistakes he made and the lessons he hopes younger players will learn from his experience.
Simon said he attracted interest from several clubs, including Liverpool, Hull City, Fulham, Brighton, Tottenham and Lyon, but none of the proposed moves materialised.
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Asked whether he had any regrets despite enjoying a successful career and remaining one of the longest-serving players in the Super Eagles squad, Simon said he had one major regret he wanted to share with the next generation of footballers.
“Yes, I have. And this is something I will share with young players, the younger generation. My regret as a professional player.
“Between 2016 and 2018, my form declined because I was focused on making a transfer. Liverpool expressed interest in signing me, along with Hull City, Fulham, Brighton, Tottenham, and Lyon.
“We faced them in the Europa League in 2017. However, when you read about these things in the newspapers, some are accurate while others are mere speculation.
“In the first year, I was unable to secure a transfer. The following year, I was meant to join Liverpool, but that did not materialise. Brighton also did not work out.
“I found myself thinking, ‘Is it the agent or the club? I don’t want to play.’ I was convincing myself: ‘Whether I play or I don’t play, it doesn’t matter,’” he confessed.
Simon said that mindset eventually affected his performances as he believed refusing to play would force his club to sell him.
“I believed that if I didn’t play, the club would quickly find a way to sell me. The club acquired me for 1 million, but the amount they sought that year was 25 million after just one year,” he added.
