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The beautiful game has been the source of joy and happiness for many over the years. Yet, the world of football is an extremely unforgiving place with even the smallest of mistakes boasting of the potential to be magnified by gigantic proportions.
Hence, it is only inevitable that some players are propelled to superstardom in the blink of an eye while they are sent crashing down to earth equally quicker the next week.
Through the years, there have been several footballers who have become household names courtesy their precocious displays as youngsters or their trophy-laden careers at some of the biggest clubs in the world.
However, with age and the decline of their powers, they’ve found themselves out of the footballing elite.
Through the course of this article, we would take a look at five such superstars of yesteryear who now ply their trade for clubs one wouldn’t have envisaged them playing for.
Without further ado, here is a look at them:
#5. Oscar (Shanghai SIPG)
Oscar was plucked from the relative obscurity of the Brazilian League in the summer of 2012 by Chelsea. The Brazilian enjoyed a trophy-rich stint in West London and by the time he left in December 2016, he had already accumulated a couple of Premier League titles to go with a Europa League triumph.
Oscar is a skilful operator and specialises in playing behind the main striker. Blessed with the ability to pick the lock of any defence, the Brazilian was touted as a talent comparable to the mercurial Neymar.
Yet, the midfielder decided to move to China when at the peak of his career. Unsurprisingly, he has slipped off the national team radar since.
Throughout his formative years, Oscar was believed to be the torchbearer of another golden generation for Brazil, alongside the likes of Neymar, Coutinho and Firmino.
Unfortunately, the Brazilian made a wrong move at a critical stage in his career. Thus, despite possessing world-beating talent, he had to settle for a rather lucrative but unspectacular career.
#4. Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors)
The Argentine national team has seen its fair share of promising players come through the ranks in the 21st century. The names of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero quickly spring to mind. However, a certain Carlos Tevez wasn’t too shabby either.
The Argentine is renowned for his time in the English Premier League and his sublime performances for Manchester United and Manchester City explain why. Tevez won three league titles in England with two coming for the red half of Manchester while he also won the Champions League with the Red Devils.
His other title triumph was accomplished with City in 2011-12. Moreover, he also won the Serie A twice after his move to Juventus in 2013.
Tevez enjoyed a chequered career and while he was never too far away from controversy, he certainly lived up to his billing throughout his time in Europe.
After spells in Italy and England, he proceeded to the cash-rich Chinese Super League but left after a solitary season.
At present, he turns out for Boca Juniors in his native country. Thus, it is only fitting that he is spending the twilight of his career in Argentina.
#3. Nani (Orlando City SC)
The Portuguese enjoyed a stellar career at Manchester United winning a host of trophies. The winger laid his hands on 12 titles during an eight-year spell.
Nani’s time at Old Trafford culminated in 2015 but by then, he had won everything on offer in the English game. However, since his exit from England, he has represented a journeyman looking for the ideal platform to finish off his career.
The Portuguese currently finds himself in the United States of America, turning out for Orlando City SC.
On his day, there were only a handful of players who could rival the Portuguese’s natural ability on the ball.
Yet, he was always one of those players who mesmerised and frustrated you in equal measures.
Whatever the case maybe, Nani was an extraordinary servant for Manchester United and Portugal. Thus, he should be accorded the opportunity to sign off the way he wants. And in Orlando, he seems to be winding down his career in just the right way.
#2. David Villa (Vissel Kobe)
David Villa recently joined hands with his old teammate, Andres Iniesta at Vissel Kobe in the J-League. The Spaniard has enjoyed a prolific career and the move to Japan looks primed to be his last footballing assignment.
Arguably one of the greatest Spanish strikers of all time, Villa formed the core of Spain’s all-conquering national side between 2008 and 2012. In addition, he was also part of the irresistible Barcelona side in the early 2010s.
With sumptuous technique to match an instinctive eye for goal, the Spaniard made a living making the net bulge. However, Villa’s game was so much more than just goals. On countless occasions, the forward linked up effortlessly with his teammates and was as unselfish a striker as any.
However, just as all good things must come to an end, we must also brace ourselves for football without David Villa.
And just like one of those fairy tale endings, the Spaniard is drawing the curtains on his career alongside an old partner in crime.
#1. Robinho (Istanbul Basaksehir)
Robinho has divided football fans ever since breaking onto the footballing scene as an effervescent teenager. A move to Real Madrid beckoned yet the Brazilian never failed to conjure the consistent displays his talent warranted.
After sparkling intermittently in the Los Blancos shirt, the Brazilian was thought to be the harbinger of a new era at Manchester City. Though the Cityzens have scaled remarkable heights in the past decade, Robinho flattered to deceive for the majority of his time in England.
An unfruitful spell at the Etihad was followed by four years at AC Milan. While the Brazilian showcased his undoubted prowess on occasions, the general consensus was that Robinho would go down as one of those players whose potential and performance graph rarely intersected.
At the moment, the forward finds himself in Turkey playing for Istanbul Basaksehir. Though he has started off on a bright note, scoring a goal in his first couple of appearances, the Brazilian would surely have wanted his career to take a different path. Robinho would surely be the prime example of another footballer asking himself ‘what if’.
However, unluckily for him, nothing materialised. Yet, the footballing fraternity was arguably more unfortunate as they were rid of a genuinely scintillating footballer.
