Football is evolving; there’s no two ways about it. In order to spring to the dizzy heights of Champions League glory, clubs now need to ensure they are as clinical off the pitch as they are on it.
A distant memory are the days when clubs could snap-up world beaters on a free; teams can now only lure the greatest with hefty fees, which takes a toll on their finite budgets. So how do the big boys across Europe continue to fuel their financial mills?
Indeed, the most effective method seems to be flogging the apparent dead weight in their respective squads; a simple and relatively obvious solution. More often than not, a player may have been wrongly suited to such a gargantuan outfit and, therefore, a move away suits both parties; the individual enjoys a new challenge at a more appropriate playing level and the fee paid for him acts as leverage for the big club’s next bumper deal.
On the contrary, said player may be an unrealised gem with the potential to flourish into the next Lionel Messi. This happens far more regularly than we anticipate. A manager deems the youngster surplus to requirements, only to see his estimated worth elevate to triple the original twelve months down the line and the selling club are left scratching their heads. Let’s therefore take a look at five sales in particular which teams must regret greatly.
#1 Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea > Liverpool)
The Brendan Rodgers empire may well have been erased from the memory banks for the majority of Liverpool fans since Jürgen Klopp’s arrival, but there’s no doubting the Northern-Irishman played a pivotal part in the Reds’ pursuit of Daniel Sturridge.
On the fringes of a star-studded Chelsea crop, Daniel was more often than not deployed on the flank where he struggled to make an impact. Chelsea’s seemingly limitless budget enabled them to lure the continent’s finest and the Englishman found it difficult to break into the Blues’ frame.
A brief resurrection occurred in 2011, when he was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers, where he immediately made an impact. Played through the centre, Sturridge scored on his debut for the Trotters, bagging an injury-time winner against Wolves. An instant fan-favourite, the forward concluded his spell with a return of 8 goals in 12 games.
Surprisingly, the red-hot form did no favours for Daniel at Stamford Bridge who was sold to Liverpool two years later for a fee of £12-million, but it would be he who had the last laugh. Under Rodgers, Sturridge flourished, as he felt belief had been installed into him after he was allocated his desired role through the middle and he began racking up regular game time.
Having formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez and Phillippe Coutinho, Sturridge netted 21 goals in 29 appearances come the close of his first full season. Such great form propelled the forward into England’s no. 9 shirt and, ever since, he hasn’t looked back, although Chelsea may have done.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea > Wolfsburg)
If Daniel’s departure wasn’t bad enough, the sale of Kevin De Bruyne to Wolfsburg back in 2014 is sure to make the Blues faithful frustrated. The writing was on the wall from the second the Belgian arrived from Genk back in 2012 for £7-million. Upon arrival, De Bruyne announced "To come to a team like Chelsea is a dream but now I have to work hard to achieve the level that's necessary." Indications here of the midfielder’s unprecedented work ethic yes, but also the quality the London club already had available to them.
With Juan Mata having already nailed down the ‘number-ten’ role and an improving Oscar first in line to supersede the Spaniard, De Bruyne couldn’t worm his way into the starting eleven. A brief respite from his relegation to the bench came in a sound loan spell with Werder Bremen where he scored 10 times in 33 matches, but there was little recognition when he returned to the English capital.
An agitated De Bruyne concluded his Chelsea career with a £17-million switch to Wolfsburg. While the Blues would be happy with the profit made from the deal at the time, they did not forecast such a superb turn-around in the Belgian’s fortunes.
Following an impressive debut season, in which the now 24-year-old bagged 10 goals and 6 assists, De Bruyne spearheaded his side’s eventual second-place finish in Germany’s top-flight. Such pulsating form earned a bumper move to Manchester City earlier this past transfer window and since, De Bruyne has set the EPL alight.
#3 Gerard Pique (Manchester United > FC Barcelona)
While this deal does present an air of perspicacity on Manchester United’s part, given the Red Devils’ current defensive frailties, it’s one that they will still rue to this day. Gerard Piqué – a 16-year-old defensive midfielder impressing in Barcelona’s youth set-up – could hardly believe his luck when an offer from Manchester United came through back in 2004. Due to his age, Piqué didn’t cost Sir Alex Ferguson a penny but his potential was clear from the very beginning.
Gerard was handed just 12 appearances in his time at Old Trafford though, during which he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Real Zaragoza, partnering Gabriel Milito for the most part of his brief tenure. As hard as he tried, Piqué could simply not elevate himself from the bench to be a regular starter. Such difficulty was a testament to the world-class partnership formed between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić, who were simply unbreakable as a pairing.
The shrewdness Manchester United expelled in signing Piqué on a free was practically outdone by the Spaniard’s former club Barcelona, who activated the £5-million release clause in his contract, which they had previously set.
Alerting Barcelona to make the bid following his family’s desire to return home, Piqué’s switch to his Catalan homeland remains something Fergie himself surely regrets to this day, as the now centre-back has anchored down spots in both his national team but also his beloved Barcelona. Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal struggles back in Manchester to field four accomplished defenders each week, what rotten luck.
#4 Philippe Coutinho (Inter Milan > Liverpool)
Now a crucial component to Liverpool’s attacking armoury, Brazilian Coutinho’s arrival from Inter Milan for £8.5-million in January 2013 was met with some cynicism by critics. The midfielder had barely made a mark at Inter before Reds boss at the time Brendan Rodgers took a punt on the youngster and what a punt it turned out to be.
Inter Milan’s dealing of Philippe looks, to me, irrational and impatient, as the Nerazzurri came from claiming "Coutinho is the future of Inter" to cashing in on, let’s be honest, a rather pathetic sum of money for such a promising individual. The Serie A side bought Coutinho, when he was merely 16-years-old, from Vasco de Gama, but loaned him back to the South American giants for two seasons.
After a beneficial season-long loan at Espanyol in La Liga, Coutinho failed to stake his claim in an Inter side blessed with, albeit ageing, talent. To me, it still remains bizarre that Coutinho wasn’t kept, given he was the only true safety net for a club facing a resounding collapse from grace, as a string of big stars departed for minimal fees (due to their age) meaning the club was left in near-ruin, absent of a world-class talent.
Philippe had the potential to live up to the bill but was shipped off to Merseyside, where he has since scored 14 and assisted 19 goals for the Reds. Who knows? Had Coutinho remained in Milan, perhaps would’ve continued their dominance on the European stage.
#5 Xabi Alonso (Liverpool > Real Madrid)
If I were to pin-point the very moment when Liverpool’s decline from league runners-up in 2009 to a side scrambling around in the Europa League qualifying spots began, the finger would waver in the direction of the club’s sale of Spaniard Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid that same summer.
Few players on the planet rival Xabi’s inherent eye for a pass and composure on the ball, but that didn’t cease Liverpool’s selling of the world-beater. It was speculated that differences with the gaffer at the time Rafael Benitez spurred the departure of a player close to the heart of the Anfield faithful and one who is reported to have not wanted to leave Merseyside. The Reds slumped to a desolate 7th place finish that season and the loss of Alonso played a major role in reasons for the collapse.
This sale sparks regret not necessarily because of a revival or rebirth of the Spaniard at Real, but the problems it left Liverpool with in the aftermath. The Reds saw their defence sliced open many a time that season, due to the absence of a man who once guarded it with his life. (SPORTSKEEDA)
Alonso maintained his holding role at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid, where he was consistently focused and racked up over 20 assists and became a predominant part of a side that went on to obtain European glory during his time there. Inevitably, we must now ask – had Alonso stayed at Liverpool, would they have won the Premier League title by now?
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