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Over the years, the Premier League has proven itself to be the most difficult league to even the most gifted athletes in world football. The speed and physicality of the English top-flight has gotten the better of several footballers. Sometimes, huge expectations from passionate club fans can have a bearing on the player's mentality.
Many footballers have thrived on the expectations that the Premier League brings. The likes of Eric Cantona, Thierry Henry, Sergio Aguero and Cristiano Ronaldo were never overwhelmed by the occasion and went on to become Premier League legends.
However, some players have succumbed to the league's pressure and have sought to recapture their form by plying their trade in other leagues across the globe.
On that note, let's look at 10 Premier League flops who proved themselves elsewhere.
#10 Juan Cuadrado
The versatile Colombian made a name for himself at Fiorentina before impressing for his national team at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. His performances earned him a move to Chelsea in February 2015 in a deal worth £26 million, which also saw Mohamed Salah join Fiorentina on loan.
Juan Cuadrado made just thirteen league appearances for Chelsea in half a season with the club before being loaned out to Juventus for the next two campaigns. The winger was barely given a chance to prove himself with the Blues.
However, Cuadrado rejuvenated his career while on loan at Juventus, immediately becoming a regular starter for the club. He earned himself a permanent move to Turin in 2017 in a deal worth €20 million. The speedster is currently a key member of Andrea Pirlo's squad owing to his ability to play as a winger, right-back and wing-back.
#9 Henrikh Mkhitariyan
The Armenian international was one of the most sought after European talents after his excellent 2015-16 season with Borussia Dortmund. After registering 23 goals and 32 assists in 52 games across all competitions, Mkhitaryan deservedly won the 'Bundesliga Players' Player of Season' award, culminating into a move to Jose Mourinho's Manchester United.
Mkhitaryan struggled to cope with the speed and physicality of the Premier League in his first few months with the club, but soon became a regular in Manchester United's starting XI under Jose Mourinho. His performances also helped the team lift the Europa League trophy.
In his second season with the club, Mkhitaryan was often left on the bench as Mourinho adopted a more defensive-minded approach. He was eventually used as part of a swap deal to bring Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal to Manchester United.
Mkhitaryan was tipped to succeed at Arsenal because of the club's free-flowing, possession-based style of football. The 32-year-old, however, failed to have the desired impact during his time with the club and was eventually sent to AS Roma on a loan deal.
The former Dortmund star has become one of Roma's star players since joining the club. He has contributed 20 goals across 70 appearances in all competitions for the Italian giants and has formed a formidable partnership with Edin Dzeko.
#8 Luis Alberto
Most football fans know Luis Alberto as one of the best attacking midfielders in Serie A. Early on in his career, the Lazio midfielder joined Liverpool from Sevilla in a deal worth £7 million in 2013.
Alberto struggled to nail down a regular place in the starting line-up in his first season with Liverpool and was sent out on loan for the subsequent two campaigns. He was then sold to Lazio for €4 million in 2016, which is often considered one of the Italian club's best-ever signings. Alberto has 35 goals and 48 assists in 171 appearances for the club.
#7 Suso
Another attacking midfielder who failed to make the grade at Liverpool was Suso. The Spaniard joined Liverpool's youth academy in 2010 and made his debut for the club in 2012. After making just 14 appearances in his first season, Suso was loaned to Almeria the following campaign.
Upon the expiration of his contract with Liverpool in 2014, he joined AC Milan, where he struggled to break into the starting line-up in his first season. He was loaned to Genoa for the 2015-16 campaign, where he excelled.
Suso became a regular in AC Milan's starting line-up after returning to the club in 2016. After several impressive performances for the Rossoneri over the next three seasons, he earned a move to Sevilla in 2019.
#6 Iago Aspas
Iago Apsas enjoyed a couple of prolific seasons with Celta Vigo before moving to Liverpool in 2013 in a deal worth £9 million. The Spaniard struggled to cope with the physicality of the Premier League and was largely used as an impact substitute by Liverpool.
He failed to score in his 14 Premier League appearances for the Merseyside club and was loaned out to Sevilla after just one season. Sevilla exercised the option to buy Aspas from Liverpool at the end of his loan deal but sold him to Celta Vigo on the same day.
Aspas has revived his career at Celta Vigo, scoring 102 goals in 195 La Liga appearances for the Spanish side. He was also part of Spain's squad for the 2018 World Cup.
#5 Stefan Savic
Football fans know Stefan Savic for his heroic performances for Atletico Madrid in La Liga and the Champions League over the years. The 30-year-old has developed himself into one of the best defenders in Europe during his time in Spain and has been the ideal replacement for Diego Godin for Atletico Madrid.
Savic spent one year in the Premier League with Manchester City in 2011-12. He won the domestic title in his only season in England but failed to nail down a regular spot in the starting line-up.
He made just eleven appearances in the Premier League before being sold to Fiorentina in 2012. Savic rejuvenated his career at the Italian club and earned himself a move to Atletico Madrid in 2015.
#4 Federico Fazio
Federico Fazio rose to prominence during his time with Spanish side Sevilla. He helped the team win the Europa League in the 2013-14 campaign and earned a move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2014 in a deal worth £8 million.
Fazio played 20 Premier League games for Tottenham but endured a torrid first season in England, often caught out by his lack of pace. He was heavily criticized for his performances and was eventually loaned back to Sevilla the following campaign.
Fazio left Tottenham permanently to join AS Roma in 2016, where he has become a key member of the squad. Fazio has gone on to make 127 league appearances in 4 years with the Italian giants.
#3 Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay joined Manchester United in 2015 on the back of a 22-goal season for PSV Eindhoven. The Dutchman was tipped to be the 'next Cristiano Ronaldo' upon his arrival at Old Trafford and was given the famous No.7 shirt.
Depay was unable to cope with the pressure and expectations of playing for Manchester United and was often used as a scapegoat when the club performed badly on the pitch. He made just 33 Premier League appearances in his one-and-a-half seasons with the club before being sold to Lyon for £16 million.
The 27-year-old has managed to revive his career in France. He became one of the league's best forwards and led Lyon to the Champions League semifinals last season. Depay has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona this summer.
#2 Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria joined Manchester United from Real Madrid in 2014 in a deal worth £59.7 million, a then club-record fee. The Argentine was tipped to be one of the signings of the summer and enjoyed a brilliant start to life in the Premier League.
Di Maria's performances began to dip as the season went on as he was often played out of position by then Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal. An attempted burglary at the Argentine's house proved to be the final nail in the coffin. He requested a move away from the club in 2015 and was sold to PSG for £44 million.
Whilst at PSG, Di Maria has been able to refind his magic touch. He has helped the club win four Ligue 1 titles, four Coupe de France titles and four Coupe de La Ligue. He also led PSG to their first-ever Champions League final last season.
#1 Diego Forlan
Diego Forlan will forever be remembered for his heroics for Uruguay in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The striker spent three seasons with Manchester United in the Premier League.
After failing to find the back of the net in his first year with the Red Devils, Forlan refound his scoring touch in the second season. However, Forlan was never prolific during his time with Manchester United and was often used in the Cup competitions by Sir Alex Ferguson.
He was sold to Villarreal in 2004, where he managed to score 25 goals in 38 appearances. In 2007, Forlan joined Atletico Madrid, where he would develop into one of the best strikers in Europe. He scored an astonishing 96 goals in 196 appearances for the Spanish giants, helping them win the Europa League in the 2009-10 season.
