Have you ever scratched your head and paused, to try and recall an infamous player in the colours of your club. But, then you just can't seem to picture it because it appears so unthinkable... aka Radamel Falcao's disastrous loan stint at Chelsea. Well here is the list you've been waiting for of players who we all forgot ventured to the Premier League. There move was either surprisingly very short, it simply did not make sense in terms of the stature of the club in comparison to the player or it was a largely unsuccessful stint. Prepare, there are some truly amazing names in this list.
10 – Steve Mandanda: Marseille to Crystal Palace (2016 -17) Pos: GK
The 37-year-old had been a loyal servant during his nine years with Marseille, where he was there undisputed number one. His only motive for leaving his beloved Marseille was perhaps a desire for silverware or champions league football as the 10-time Ligue 1 champions had slumped in recent years, which makes this transfer even more unfathomable. Instead, following European anguish for France in the Euros that summer, he arrived at Selhurst Park a club focusing on stability in the top flight and escaping relegation dogfights. What makes this short stint forgotten is his 10 appearances for the Eagles, as he played back-up to Wayne Hennessey. In all, it appears Mandanda regretted his taste of English football because after one season he returned to Marseille reclaiming his position as number one between the posts. After over 600 appearances across two stints, he recently joined Rennes in July 2022.
9 – Lukke De Jong: Borussia M’Gladbach to Newcastle (Jan 2014 – Jun 2014) Pos: ST
De Jong has resurrected his torrid barren spell at Newcastle in 2014 going on to become a clinical aerial goal threat at PSV and then Sevilla. At Sevilla his goals earnt them the Europa League title and while used sparingly he was a recognised physical presence who could create chances with his link-up play. With the fact he has since gone on to feature for Barcelona and recently starred at the World Cup for Holland, it makes his failures at Newcastle an even more distant memory. He made just 12 appearances on Tyneside, but failed to score, where he appeared incapable of adjusting to the intensity of the Premier League. It meant he joined a long list of European strikers like Timo Werner and Roberto Soldado in struggling to acclimatise to England. Its likely De Jong will want to forget his short spell with the Magpies, perhaps seen as a learning curve for the Dutchman early on in his career.
8 – Mario Balotelli: AC Milan to Liverpool (2014-2015) Pos: ST
It’s a far cry to describe Balotelli as forgettable; his erratic outbursts, arrogant ego and flamboyant celebrations have symbolised the total opposite in his career. However, in a career that peaked so high early on with a treble at Inter Milan and a title in Manchester many will forget his return to England under Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool. It signified the post-Luis Suarez era where the club plunged into a spiralling search for a replacement and many at the time where perplexed with Balotelli’s arrival, seen to have gone past his best. Four goals in 28 appearances was very underwhelming, and he wasn’t the answer to Liverpool’s prayers, leaving after a season to continue his hip hopping across Europe.
7 – Iago Aspas: Celta Vigo to Liverpool (2013-14) Pos: ST
This countdown highlights a woeful period in Liverpool’s recent transfer history, appearing to scout promising youngsters in the hope they become something special. This did not happen for Iago Aspas, a player who has reached new heights as a veteran scoring 142 goals in 284 appearances for his boyhood club Celta Vigo since his return. At the time he was an unknown 24-year-old who struggled with the ferocity of the Premier League, restricted to game time and lacking confidence. After 15 appearances he prematurely ventured back to Spain on-loan and later rediscovered his form back home. Its clear it was a forgettable transfer, because he never settled down in England, most likely homesickness where it appeared England wasn’t meant to be for him.
6 – Luis Alberto: Sevilla to Liverpool (2013-14) Pos: CAM
Lazio fans will be left bewildered seeing their playmaker on this list, where he is renowned in Italy as a silky and inventive midfielder oozing quality. Unfortunately, this parallel with his disastrous attempts at English football is why he sits at number six. He was an exciting prospect when Liverpool signed him, but he was never afforded a platform to shine by Brendan Rodgers managing just 12 appearances. Instead, he was unable to steal the limelight with his performances and impress his club leading to him being loaned out for two seasons until leaving for Lazio. It’s difficult to see that the player he became at Lazio, is the same that went into the shadows for Liverpool which is why it is such a forgettable transfer.
5 – Fillipe Luis: Atletico Madrid to Chelsea (2014-2015) Pos: LB
The Brazilian epitomised Diego Simeone’s defensively solid Atletico Madrid team, reaching the Champions League final in 2013-14. His move to Chelsea saw a pedigree and experienced left-back brought to succeed Ashley Cole and managed under the tactical prowess of Jose Mouhrino. It seemed the perfect fit, except he was never recognised as Chelsea’s first choice left-back and instead was given just nine starts during Chelsea’s title winning season in 2015. For a Brazilian international and a regular at Atletico with so much knowledge of the game to feel surplus and detached from Chelsea’s domestic glory it was understandable that he left after one season to return to the familiarity of Madrid. Overall, it was an underwhelming transfer that had so much possibility and it can quickly be forgotten, with the left-back since tasting Europa League success under Simeone.
4- Esteban Cambiasso: Inter Milan to Leicester City (2014 -2015) Pos: CDM
Picture this; Cambiasso 5 times Serie A winner, La Liga champion and Champions League winner moving to Leicester City who had just been promoted to the Premier League. He was 34, but it was still an unbelievable cue for Leicester to grasp his signature, possibly the incentive of the Premier League influential in his move. Cambiasso, was surrounded by players who had come from the Non-League or lower divisions in Europe, respectably, and who were out of there depths in the Premier League. Nevertheless, he was at the centre of their unprecedented late escape to stay in the Premier league under Nigel Pearson before departing to Greece, in which he made 31 appearances. It can often be forgotten because of Leicester’s absurdity of capturing such a decorated player where it appears minute amongst all of his success. If only he had remained a year to experience Ranieri’s infamous title win with the foxes.
3 – Juan Cuadrado: Fiorentina to Chelsea (Feb 2015-Aug 2015) Pos : RM
The Columbian entertained at the 2014 World Cup, with his dance moves and performances which attracted many clubs to sign him. It was Chelsea who secured the awaited move, for a player who looked energetic and skilful on the wing as well as being very versatile. He never settled at Stamford Bridge though, making 15 appearances in his first half a season where he showed glimpses of his potential but looked disjointed and appeared out of favour under Jose Mouhrino. Unexpectantly, after just seven months he was loaned to Juventus excelling in Turin, eventually securing a permanent move with the Serie A champions. His Chelsea transfer was so highly anticipated giving how Cuadrado had burst onto the scene in Brazil at the World Cup, but he was never given enough investment at Chelsea to succeed. His spell is forgotten because of the advancing full back he became at Juventus, the player he should have become at Chelsea.
2 – Bastian Schweinsteiger: Bayern Munich to Manchester Utd (2015 – 2017) Pos: CDM
He served Bayern Munich for 17 years, developing himself into a club legend where he achieved every accolade. Adding a World Cup medal to his collection, he was idolised as one of the world’s best in midfield. It would seem his move at 30 to Manchester United, still in his golden years was a perfect marriage to aid United’s trophy quest. Instead, it was damaging on his legacy a meagre 13 league starts with United finishing fifth under Louis Van Gaal. It seemed disrespectful to such a good servant of the beautiful game and even there FA Cup crown did not hide his disappointing season. It was a bold choice and risk to try the Premier League for Schweinsteiger, in the end it was a failure because he didn’t make an impact, but this will always be overlooked because of his reputation at Bayern Munich.
1- Victor Valdes: Manchester United to Middlesbrough (2016-17) Pos: GK
Victor Valdes had sat atop football’s riches for a number of seasons enduring success in Barcelona’s golden team that delivered trebles and dominated world football. After making 535 appearances after 12 years at the Nou Camp he decided to try English football moving to Manchester United. After failing to deposess David De Gea of his number one spot the most bizarre move took place as he was loaned to newly promoted Middlesbrough. The teeside club must have had an agent in the Spanish field, as they also recruited Alvaro Negrado in another exciting transfer. Valdes fared better for Middlesbrough, playing 28 times but even his credentials couldn’t stop Middlesbrough from escaping the drop in their debut Premier League campaign. It’s the most forgettable because, it is so surprising the drop off Valdes endured since Barcelona where no one could envisage a World Cup winner to end up in Middlesbrough and suffer relegation.
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