Sofiane Boufal has revealed that he turned down offers over the summer from European clubs where he would earn up to triple what he earns now at Southampton.
Speaking in an in-depth interview with the Saints official website, the Moroccan international admitted that there were proposals over the transfer window for him to leave Southampton. However, the attacker wanted to remain on the south coast and prove himself to Ralph Hasenhuttl after a year out on-loan with Celta Vigo.
And prove himself he has, as Boufal has arguably been one of Southampton’s most important players this season with the former Lille winger assisting twice in the Premier League as well as playing in all but one of the Saints league games as numbers from Transfermarkt show.
Boufal said to Southampton’s website: “Since the first day I came back here, I knew I would stay. I spoke with the club and I had good offers in the summer, maybe two or three times what I earn here in salary, but I didn’t want to go.
“They were very good offers in Europe, but I was focused on staying here. I wanted to stay in Southampton, work hard and be part of the team”
The 26-year-old attacker has proven his worth this season, with Boufal quickly establishing himself as a fan favourite amongst Southampton fans and looking set to have his best year in the Premier League after a year away in La Liga, yet his performances haven’t been enough to stop the Saints from living on a knife-edge in the English top-flight.
Heading into the international break, the Saints currently sit in 17th place in the Premier League table after the first eight games of the season, with Hasenhuttl’s side accumulating just seven points.
