Mali international Mamadou Sangaré has revealed that he uses Uber to travel to Brentford’s training ground, preferring the cost of a taxi to buying an expensive personal car despite his reported €48m move to the Premier League club.
The midfielder’s decision reflects his desire to maintain a modest lifestyle after becoming a professional footballer, rather than changing his habits to match the expectations often associated with players at the highest level.
Speaking in an interview with Canal+, Sangaré explained that his approach to spending is shaped by his background and the values he wants to preserve.
“I’m a very simple person; just because I’ve become a professional player doesn’t mean I have to change my habits. I know where I come from,” he said.
The Malian’s choice to order an Uber for his daily journey to training has attracted attention because of the contrast between his reported transfer fee and his preference for a practical mode of transport.
While many professional footballers are associated with luxury vehicles and expensive lifestyles, Sangaré appears comfortable choosing an option he considers more economical.
Rather than committing money to purchasing and maintaining a personal car, he believes using a ride-hailing service is a more sensible arrangement for his everyday routine.
His comments also underline the importance he places on remaining connected to his roots, even as his football career takes him to a higher level.
Sangaré’s reported €48m transfer to Brentford represents a major step in his professional journey.
However, the move has not, by his own account, changed the way he approaches ordinary decisions away from the pitch.
The midfielder’s remarks offer a glimpse into his attitude towards the financial rewards that can come with playing professional football.
His priority, as reflected in the interview, is not to adopt a more extravagant lifestyle simply because his career has progressed.
For the Mali international, success on the pitch does not have to mean a complete change in personal habits.
His decision to travel to training by Uber is an example of the practical approach he says he wants to maintain.
Sangaré’s comments provide a reminder that professional footballers can have different attitudes towards wealth and spending. While the game often places the lifestyles of its biggest earners under the spotlight, the midfielder says he remains guided by where he comes from.
