Former Sunderland and Wigan Athletic midfielder Max Power is training with Danish side Aarhus Gymnastikforening (AFG) with a view to a move, as reported by Bold.dk.
The 31-year-old left Saudi side Al-Qadsiah in the summer after just ten appearances, and is now plotting a return to Europe with AGF. His appearance on the AGF training pitch was confirmed by their sporting director, former Liverpool defender Stig Inge Bjornebye, who confirmed the arrangement of the club’s official site.
“It is with positive intentions from both parties that Max is visiting this week,” wrote Bjornebye, who also appeared for Blackburn Rovers. “He is an experienced player with extensive experience from English football who has interesting qualities for us. Now he comes to visit us and that gives both him the opportunity to look at us and the same for us in relation to him.”
Born in Birkenhead, Power started his career with Tranmere and captained every age group as he progressed. He broke into the first team at 18, making 127 appearances and contributing to 31 goals during his time with the club.
Following Tranmere’s relegation to League Two, Power moved to Wigan, where he helped the Latics secure two League One titles in three years. In the summer of 2018, he joined Sunderland on loan, later making the move permanent by signing a two-and-a-half-year contract mid-season.
After 137 appearances for the Black Cats, Power returned to Wigan. He spent the last two seasons of his English career with the League One side, where he experienced promotion and relegation. On completion of his contract, he opted to head out to the Middle East, but found game time limited.
AGF have had a solid start to the Danish Superliga season, with four wins from their opening six games, and they’ll be chasing European qualification this season. They missed out after finishing sixth last time out, and have not qualified for the group stages of a European competition since 1995.
They made headlines in 1989, getting to the quarter-finals of the Cup Winner’s Cup, losing narrowly to Barcelona. However, they last won the Danish championship in 1986 and the Danish Cup in 1996, so they are chasing moderate success, with Power seen as a possible component in that.
Writer’s View
At 31, Power shouldn’t have ever gone out to the Middle East. It might be lucrative, but it is a graveyard for players in terms of trophies. AGF offers him something different – a chance to challenge at a decent-sized club for silverware. That’s something he hoped for at Sunderland and achieved at Wigan, and surely should be the driving factor for any footballer approaching the tail end of his career.
To play top-flight football and battle for a European spot is a big challenge, but Power is still young enough to rise to that challenge. He’s always had goals and assists in him, and if a move to AGF works out, he’ll surely squeeze a little more out of his career.
Be the first to comment