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Adel Taarabt (QPR to Benfica)
The 26-year-old Taarabt has ended his seven-year sojourn in English football, moving to Portuguese giants Benfica on a free transfer. At Queens Park Rangers, he produced some irrepressible performances but also had his attitude and fitness questioned by former managers Neil Warnock and Harry Redknapp.
It will be fascinating to see whether Taarabt’s talents are better developed at Benfica: the Lisbon club will be playing in the UEFA Champions League, and compete in a domestic competition that should the fleet-footed winger’s physique and style.
“It is a huge opportunity for me,” Taarabt said after making the move. “When my agent told me Benfica were interested, I immediately said: ‘Yes, I’m ready to go.”
Steven N’Zonzi (Stoke City to Sevilla)
Steven N’Zonzi might not be one of the most recognisable names in European football, but anyone who watched his performances for Stoke in the Premier League last season will be familiar his unique talents.
A midfielder capable of turning matches with individual moments of quality, it remains to be seen whether he can adapt to life in La Liga. Having also played for Blackburn Rovers, his physicality allowed him to thrive in England but Spain offers a completely different challenge.
“I need to test myself in the Champions League and unfortunately I can’t do that with Stoke,” N’Zonzi said of the move. “For me it was the right decision.”
The Europa League winners have signed Stoke’s Player of the Year for a mere £7 million.
Nani (Manchester United to Fenerbahce)
Another winger who enjoyed a long stay in England, Nani’s hugely successful Manchester United career brought him four English Premier League titles, a League Cup and a Champions League winners’ medal.
Scoring a number of wonderful goals and dazzling fans with his creativity and footwork, his importance had nonetheless diminished by the end of his time at Old Trafford: Nani was loaned to former club Sporting Lisbon last season and has now been moved on.
Turkey provides an exotic location for the continuation of his career and he is joined at his new club by former United teammate Robin van Persie.
Abou Diaby (Arsenal to Marseille)
Spending almost a decade under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, France international Abou Diaby never fulfilled his full potential in London. His Arsenal career was marred by regular injury setbacks that stunted his development and saw the midfielder make just two appearances in two years before he was released by the club.
Rejecting approaches from both West Brom and Liverpool, the talented but fragile 29-year-old opted instead for a move to Marseille.
“What motivated my choice was knowing which club would help me best medically,” Diaby said. “That was really my priority. I did have other offers. I had very, very good contacts with West Brom.”
With ambitions to return to the France set-up, Diaby will receive plenty of support under progressive Chilean manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Radamel Falcao (Monaco to Chelsea)
At his peak, Radamel Falcao was arguably the best striker in the world, terrorizing defenders on all continents and winning the Europa League with both Porto and Atletico Madrid.
In Spain, the forward was a revelation, before a move to cashed-up French club Monaco saw his career stutter considerably: an injury in early 2014 saw him miss the World Cup in Brazil that year and the player has been a shadow of himself since.
Even a loan move to Manchester United last season couldn’t bring the best out of the Colombian, who struggled with the pace of the game in England. Nonetheless, he has been thrown a lifeline by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who will be hoping to wring a few goals out of the 29 year-old this season.
If Falcao manages to boost his fitness and confidence, it could prove to be a shrewd piece of business by the Portuguese manager.
