Mason Holgate has insisted he hasn't come to Qatar for a holiday - even if that's ironically what he was on when he got the call to join.
A chance to mentally reset has been the only similarity to a vacation, but the ex-Everton defender is still good enough to play in England.
Holgate has left Everton and joined Qatari side Al-Gharafa on a free transfer
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Holgate has left Everton and joined Qatari side Al-Gharafa on a free transferCredit: Getty
The 29-year-old ended his decade-long stay on Merseyside last season before completing a shock move to Qatari club Al Gharafa.
A surprise to Holgate's former teammates, who jokingly were asking if 'I could do anything to get them over here.'
And a slight bolt from the blue for the Toffees cult hero as well, who initially missed the call from Al Gharafa as he was playing golf.
“This was the first time that I openly did not had a club, ever in my life,” Holgate exclusively told talkSPORT.com from Qatar.
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“I was playing golf, and when I play golf, I just throw my phone either in the buggy or in the bag. Then I've came off the golf course, and I had a missed call off my agent.
“I was speaking to a few clubs at the time, in a few different places. Then it was just like, 'Oh, we've got a meeting with Al Gharafa in Qatar. You need to jump on Zoom.'
“I ended up speaking to the manager on Zoom with my agent that night, and then I spoke to a few other clubs, but I think that the plan that they put forward here sounded really exciting and something that I wanted to be a part of.”
Mason Holgate on life in Qatar
Holgate had previously spent the entirety of his career in England, having started at Barnsley before joining Everton in 2015.
“Definitely, there was a lot of anxiousness about [moving abroad],” he added. "Speaking to the clubs I'd spoken to already and speaking to Al Gharafa, it was still a hard decision for me to make.
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“I think I've never lived outside of England. I was six months down in Southampton, and that felt like a million miles away.
“So it was something that I'm not sure how comfortable I was with before leaving the north of England or leaving England period.
“Once I sat down and spoke to everybody about it, obviously my agents, my families and stuff, I just went with the feeling that I felt would be the best, how I felt at the time, felt like it was the best decision for me for numerous reasons, to be fair, I think at the time.”
Holgate was part of an influx of Premier League and European talent who have made summer moves to Qatar.
Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino, Fulham hero Aleksandar Mitrovic and former Wolves winger Pablo Sarabia all joined Italy's Euro 2020 winner Marco Verratti in finding a home in the 2022 World Cup host country.
Holgate's Al Gharafa side finished third in the league last season but are currently four points clear at the top of the Qatar Stars League.
Qatar Stars League has been raking in high-profile talents
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Qatar Stars League has been raking in high-profile talents
Al Gharafa factfile
Founded: 1979
Titles: 7 First Division Championships
8 Emir Cups
3 League Cups
2 Qatar Supercups
3 Qatar Stars Cup
4 Second Division Championships
Home Stadium: Thani bin Jassim Stadium, capacity: 25,000
Notable former players: Marcel Desailly
Wesley Sneijder
Ze Roberto
Juninho Pernambucano
Qatar 'an emerging league'
Holgate told talkSPORT: “There were a lot of people in a similar position to me, as in like they just wanted a new challenge.
“It's an emerging league. Everybody knows about Saudi Arabia, the MLS. But as you see now, a lot more names are coming to this league, and it's easy to see why.
“It's a beautiful place to live in. It's unbelievable. Everything you want here is here.
Holgate had endured three loan spells in the last two years before settling in Qatar
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Holgate had endured three loan spells in the last two years before settling in QatarCredit: Getty
“It's just a very easy place to come if you speak English. Obviously, it's a little bit harder with my accent. I have to slow down a little bit.
“The football is getting better. I think it's getting a lot more competitive just by the names that are coming over here.
“Even playing the Champions League games is a whole new experience, a whole different type of football.
“You play teams from Saudi Arabia, you play teams from the UAE, and it's been a very good experience that I've enjoyed so far.”
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'I can still play in England'
Holgate has played in all five of Al Gharafa's games in the AFC Champions League - a tournament which Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr failed to qualify for.
On his next steps, the Jamaica international admitted: “I'm 29 years old. I think I still believe, obviously, I can play in England.
“I'm here now in Qatar, and Al Gharafa and I love it.
Holgate believes he's entering his peak
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Holgate believes he's entering his peakCredit: Getty
“I love it here, but at the end of the day, I still believe that I am good enough to play at a level given a chance.
“I still go away with Jamaica and play internationally, and I play with the boys that are still in England - I don't feel off. I don't feel slower.
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“I think that's a lot of assumptions that people make. You come here for a holiday. I don't feel like I've come here for a holiday.
“I've come here to play football. I feel refreshed, recharged, and I feel like I'm coming into my prime. And I just want to play as much football as I can while I feel like I can.”