Home » Article » From Legend To Bust – Sagas Of Transfers Gone Horribly Wrong

From Legend To Bust – Sagas Of Transfers Gone Horribly Wrong

 

It’s that time of year again when Football discussions make a paradigm shift from league positions and results to the players’ worth and transfer status. The time of the year when teams seek the services of fabled players and new legends are “born” (or should we say recruited). With rival clubs fighting for new players and players flirting with clubs all over Europe, transfers provide another dimension to the entertainment of our beloved game. Success or failure whatever maybe the case new signings bring a lot of hope and entertainment during the lull of the season end.

Many a great coaches have made their names by thriving on the edge they have secured by capturing some of the best players from the market. With Oil money an ever increasing influence in the Transfer market, mind boggling sums of money are being offered by teams to secure the services of esteemed players. But, these stories are not always fables with “Happy Endings”. Here is a look at some high profile signings gone badly wrong for some of the top clubs of Europe in recent years.

Andy Carroll (Newcastle United to Liverpool F.C.)- 35 Million Pounds.

Carroll

Over the years the Merseyside club has had the honor of having engaged the services of some top strikers from Michael Owen to Fernando Torres. The 31st of January, 2011 will go down in the history of Liverpool as a red letter day for the events of that day were shocking to a biblical proportion. The shock of Torres’ transfer was replaced by speculation over the new signing. The sensation from Newcastle United, for a sensation he had indeed been that season, scoring 11 goals in the first half of the Premier League and having been instrumental in their return to the top flight of English Football. At the age of 22 years, he was the most expensive signing Liverpool had ever made. The time to come would however be torrid for both Carroll and Liverpool supporters as the player produced hardly any good performances. As of today under Brendan Rodgers Liverpool are keen to offload the striker.

Juan Sebastian Veron (Lazio to Manchester United)- 28.1 Million Pounds.

Veron

A big black blot on the impeccable managerial era of Sir Alex Ferguson. After giving massive performances for Parma and Lazio in Italy Manchester United showed massive interest in the Argentine midfielder. So much was the interest that Sir Alex was willing to shell out in excess of 28 Million Pounds- an English record signing amount at that time. From the starting he struggled in the Premier League never looking comfortable and hardly having an influence on the game. His performances constantly drew flak from the media leading to outbursts by Sir Alex. After considerable opportunities wasted at Manchester United, he was sold off to Chelsea for around 15 Million pounds.

Andriy Shevchenko (A.C.Milan to Chelsea)- 30.8 Million Pounds.

Shevchenko

If there is a transfer that failed, it is this, it is this, it is this. As the new owners of Chelsea F.C. Roman Abrahimovic was keen to bring in the world’s best players to London. In this quest, his eyes fell on Europe’s supreme talent Shevchenko. For the Ballon d’Or winner in 2004, Chelsea was willing to offer money and striker Hernan Crespo but Milan held Chelsea off. The next year however he moved to Chelsea for a record English transfer fee of 30.8 million Pounds. It was widely speculated that Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had no intentions of bringing Sheva to Stamford Bridge but the Chief Executive was adamant on it. He had an ordinary first season at the Bridge and was injured during the final days missing key fixtures. The next season also his performances were not very eye catching and eventually he lost his squad position to an ever improving Didier Drogba. His lack of match opportunity at Chelsea led to him being loaned back to Milan. But the famed Andriy Shevchenko the Champion and best player of Europe was never to re merge again.