I have been wanting to write this post for some time but found the time today.
Our modern day football has become a case of Crony Capitalism where every owner wants his club to win the League title and Champions league ASAP after he has taken over. In that quest of fulfilling his dreams he usually hands an open chequebook to the director of football, which results in inflated transfer prices.
With the price tag looming large it is but often that many times they fail to live up to the expectations, I will look at in my view the 10 transfer flops and these players after the moves have a looked a shadow of their original self in no specific order
1) Andriy Shevchenko: The Ukrainian poacher was a legend at the San Siro, He had it all speed, quickness, predatory instincts and an amazing midfield to assist him. But his move to Chelsea backfired and tarnished his legacy, he was 30 and did not have the creative minds of Pirlo and Seerdorf to support, the price tag of 30 Million made matters worse, he played intermittently and never showed signs of being his old self,
2) Fernando Torres: Liverpool Legend, the nemesis of Nemanja Vidic, Scoring in the final of European championship, He was one of the best in the Planet in the final third, he made Liverpool a contender, but similar to Andriy an ill fated move has killed his career to this extent now he is more known for missing sitters than exquisite finishing for which he had built a reputation. Chelsea have shipped him out to Milan where he is looking even more bad, No budding footballer today wants to be compared Fernando and what a shame it has become
3) Juan Sebastian Veron: The man nicknamed "La Brujita" was expected to destroy the opposition's midfield when he joined Manchester United, But he remained injury prone and unconvincing causing people to doubt where was the man who guided Lazio to the Serie A title. He never adjusted to the pace of England and even after another expensive transfer to Chelsea where he was even worse.
4) Denilson: Before Cristiano Ronaldo was dazzling with his tricks, there was Denilson the "Magician" from Brazil for whom Real Betis broke the transfer record and the rest as they say is history, rather Denilson was history, other than the stepovers he could not produce any chances for his team mates
5) Owen Heargreaves: The Man is only 33 but is unable to play and no one wants to take a chance on him, with his injury chequered past it was silly why Manchester United paid 17 million for him. You can't blame heargreaves, he did what he does best, Stay Injured throughout his time
6) Andy Carroll: The Domino effect, Fernando Torres dramatic departure allowed Liverpool to press the Emergency button and sign Andy Carroll for 35 million !!!1. 35 Million for a man who had scored 10 goals in 6 months seemed Outlandish, but not for Liverpool who bought him for his Physical strength and Rocket left foot which made him a sensation in the North East, but i guess the 35 Million did not cover those two as he flopped badly and now currently trying to revive himself at West Ham
7) Kaka: The Man had the World at his feet, he was the World's best player, Milan's formation was designed in a way to ensure Kaka could score, but he chose to leave it to become a Galactico at Madrid and tough he boosted his Ego he shot himself, he could never stay fit and always seemed off pace during his stay, his going to paly out the twilight of his career in MLS
8) Dmytro Chygrynskiy: How Barcelona forked out 25 million for him still seems to baffle me. After Two Solid performances at the Camp Now while playing for Shakhtar he somehow convinced Barca to break the bank for him but he lasted one fateful season and was sold back at a Discount to Shakhtar, Now at 27 he is in his prime but no club wants to even go close to signing him
The two names which are close to my heart, it was tough to see them struggle after making their name at the Mestalla and will be forever legends in our hearts
9) Roberto Soldado: It was a homecoming for Soldado, the kid from Valencia who went to Madrid, blossomed in Getafe and became awesome at Valencia. Signed to replace David Villa, he did his role amazingly well of leading the line and banging the goals, he score more than 25 goals in all of his three seasons which earned his mega money to Tottenham where he has become the butt of Jokes, hope he could rediscover the old self
10) Gaizka Mendieta : He was the star of the Valencia team which reached the final of Champions league in 1999 and 2000. He was the complete midfielder and was destined for greatness but for money and Lazio broke the bank to sign him for 48 Million and his performances were not even worth a player of 4.8 Million subsequent spells at Barcelona and Middlesbrough helped him ride away time but snatched away his legacy.
Do let me know your views if someone else should be in the last
Cheers !!
Arvind
