Former Sunderland midfielder Max Power has admitted he sees plenty of comparisons with the Black Cats in new club Aarhus GF.
The 31-year-old has been speaking to Tipsbladet about his career to date and his new stage in Denmark after arriving from Saudi Arabia.
He joined Aarhus at the beginning of September after a year in the Middle East with Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia.
The move to Denmark is the latest in what is becoming a varied career for the midfielder, who started with Tranmere before joining Wigan, spending time on loan at Sunderland before joining them permanently and then moving to Al-Qadsiah in July 2023.
His time at Wigan was undoubtedly the best of his career to date as he managed 17 goals and 43 assists in 244 games for the club, before managing 13 goals and seven assists in 137 for Sunderland.
But it is the latter he seemingly sees comparisons with at Aarhus, particularly when it comes to the fanbase.
“I can’t guarantee that we’ll win a title, but I can promise that I’ll try to do my best every time, whether it’s in the cup or the league,” he said.
“In relation to the fan base and the passion the fans have for both our home and away games, AGF reminds me in many ways of Sunderland and what I have experienced in England. It is the big club in the city, all burning desires are very successful.”
The move to Saudi Arabia was certainly an eye-raising one, given it saw Power swapping League One in England for the riches of the Saudi Pro League.
He is certainly one of the lesser spotted transfers to have been made by clubs in the league in the last few years, where big money has been spent on luring some of the best talent in Europe to the Middle East.
They’ve done so by offering vast wages in comparison to lure the best players and quickly build the profile of the league.
Many players have insisted that it is the project and not the money that has lured them, but the former Sunderland man is more than willing to acknowledge it was all about the finances for him.
“I have always been brave enough to recognize that the change was about the financial side,” he added.
“It was something that would benefit us in the long run as a family. I think it’s important to be open about it. I didn’t go to Saudi Arabia to change a lot. It was an exciting move; it was Robbie Fowler who wanted me and I’m a big Liverpool fan and come from the same area as him.”
