Speaking on the Off-Field podcast Djite who transferred to K-League side Suwon FC in the off-season, he said Korean players earn at least five times more than those who play in the A-League.

After helping Adelaide win last season’s A-League Grand Final Djite moved to Korea in July 2016 and in his first season for his new club the 29-year-old has played 13 games and scored five goals.

Speaking to host Andrew Montesi, Djite said when you consider the product on the field Australian players are undervalued compared to other leagues around the world.

“Put it this way in the four months that I’ve been there I saved more money that I have in my last five years in Australia,” he said. “You can’t compare. The A-League is one of the most underpaid leagues in terms of what you earn compared to the quality of football you produce.

"These clubs in Korea wouldn’t be much better than A-League clubs. Except that Seoul and Jeonbuk are another level. Take them out and you got ten clubs left, they’d be similar to the top four five A-League clubs. But a player there would earn five times average than they would earn here maybe more. That is scary and they are nowhere near five times better.

“When you got two kids and you realise how expensive Australia is money makes a difference.”

While the income is high in Korea, Djite revealed that when it comes to fitness practises Australia is much more progressive.

“There are aspects where they are more advanced and there's aspects where they are 30 years behind,” he said.” I thought I went into the mediaeval times when I saw their sports science. The gyms are normal but then it’s not about having a good-looking gym, it’s about what you do in the gym and what program you get. The gym there was optional and you didn’t have to go. I got my prehab program from the Adelaide United physios and I used that over there.”

Djite’s move to the K-League is his third stint at an overseas club with his first being in Turkey then China and the 29-year-old claimed those transfers and loan helped the Reds to a large financial windfall.

“I’ve been one of their best investments,” he said. “I reckon that club has sold me twice and loaned me out once and got a fee each time. I reckon I’ve played for free. More than a million dollars I reckon. When I went to Turkey they got a massive transfer fee because I was young then, up and coming and Turkey’s generally got quite a lot of money to buy players and then the exchange rate was also very favourable. They were paid in EURO’s and you exchange that into dollars. It was $700 to $800 odd thousand dollars.”

To listen to the full interview, click on this link below:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/2-how-soccer-star-bruce-djite/id1198088455?i=1000380283587&mt=2