Alex Song joins Rubin Kazan after terminating his Barcelona contract
Alexandre Song Billong is now a Rubin Kazan player. The former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder was officially announced as a Rubin Kazan player by the Russian club earlier today.
The 28-year-old joined Rubin Kazan on a free transfer after his contract with Barcelona was mutually terminated.
The official Barcelona website published a statement that said: “FC Barcelona and player Alex Song have reached an agreement to terminate the contract that bound the two parties. FC Barcelona wishes the Cameroonian luck and much success in what follows of his professional career.”
Song played 34 games for the Barcelona first team in the 2012/13 season under Tito Vilanova and a further 31 in 2013/14 when Gerardo Martino was in charge. Song scored one goal in 65 games – his solitary goal coming against Real Zaragoza. The midfielder spent four years as a Barcelona player, the last two of which when he was on loan at West Ham United. He plied his trade at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger for six years, from 2005 to 2012.
The Cameroonian earned 49 caps for his country. His first call-up came in 2005. He played a vital role in helping his nation to the finals of the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. Unfortunately, he picked up an injury in the final against Egypt, and Cameroon went on to lose the game. His performances in the tournament were impressive enough to see him named as part of the Tournament Best XI.
Song was also named in the Team of the Tournament in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. In the 2010 and 2014 editions of the FIFA World Cup, however, the midfielder had a tough time. He was omitted by Cameroon coach Volker Finke from the squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations despite being in a good run of form for West Ham United at the time. Following his exclusion from the squad, Song announced his retirement from international football at 27 years of age.
Rubin Kazan will be hoping that the Cameroonian can once again find his best form with them. If he does manage to get firing on all cylinders, it will be a brilliant capture for the club. So far in his career Song has played a total of 373 games at club level, managing to find the back of the net eleven times. Having a player of his experience in the team will surely be of great benefit to the Russians.