The emergence of the transfer window activity as a strategic tool often puts footballers at cross-roads. Players are often being linked to other clubs regardless of their willingness to make a move and with the media often coming into play, we believe the period between the market opening and closing must be a troubling time for some footballers.
While a few footballers see the transfer market as a window of opportunity to sometimes better their prospects or even pursue a greater challenge, it is very unlikely of footballers to be on the move just 12 months after having joined the club. However, some of them have bucked the trend in the past and in this segment, we bring to you a list of 5 players who left a club just 12 months after leaving the club.
#5 Radamel Falcao
Radamel Falcao might be on top of the world at the moment with his heroics for AS Monaco. However, the Colombian superstar’s career seemed to have taken a hit not a long time ago. His exploits with Porto and subsequently Atletico Madrid had garnered the attention of several big clubs in Europe and when the striker moved to Manchester United, it was believed that he had taken the deserved next big step in his career.
Though it was a one year loan, Manchester United had the option to buy him at the end of the season. However, what followed will remain a dark spot in his rather illustrious career. Falcao struggled for game time and his lacklustre performances when afforded an opportunity by the then Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal meant that United opted against signing him permanently.
His next stop was another loan move to Chelsea, with an option to buy yet again. However, things did not go according to the plan for the player as injuries kept him out for large spells in the season.
Given his inconsistent performances and questionable fitness, Chelsea too decided to not extend his loan spell making Falcao one of the few players who made a move just 12 months after joining a club twice in their career.
#4 Angel Di Maria
There are perhaps very few players in the world who can have a devastating effect on the result of a game more than Angel Di Maria. The Argentine made a name for himself at the Portuguese club Benfica before sealing a dream move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 and has since gone on to become an elite attacker in the game.
A quick yet technically gifted player, Di Maria was believed to be the answer to Manchester United’s attacking troubles when he signed for them in the summer of 2014. After all, he had done enough during his time with Real Madrid and Argentina that he had the ability to turn the game on its head and it seemed like a move to Manchester United was the requisite next challenge in his career.
However, Di Maria, after initially impressing, failed to create a niche for himself at the club in his first season. He was always oscillating between exquisite and ineffective through the season and despite being his team’s leading creative figure, failed to impress fans and pundits.
He moved to Paris Saint-Germain under mysterious circumstances after failing to board the team’s flight for the tour of the United States of America and was subsequently revealed as a PSG player where he seems to have resurrected his credentials and continues to torment defenders.
#3 Patrick Kluivert
AC Milan in the 1990s and 2000s were a team to behold. They had the right mix of talented individuals and experience and it came as no surprise to fans and pundits when the Italian outfit went on a trophy-winning spree as the side won 6 League titles and 3 European Cups during the aforementioned 2 decades.
When the club decided to bring in the sensational Patrick Kluivert to the Italian shores, fans of the club worldwide were excited. The Dutch international had been in phenomenal form during his time at his childhood club Ajax and had played a critical role in the Dutch club winning the Eredivisie twice and the UEFA Champions League once during the 3 years he spent with the senior squad.
His move to Milan began on an excellent note as he scored a glorious goal against Juventus on his debut. However, it turned out to be a season that did not go according to plan for the Dutch player as well as the Italian club.
Milan finished 10th in the League and despite showcasing why he was counted as one of the best in the business, the then 24-year-old had a paltry returns of 9 goals in 33 appearances.
Thankfully for the player, Barcelona came calling for his services at the end of the 1997-98 season and he eventually signed for the Catalan giants on the final day of the transfer window, a move that would forever etch him as a legend of the game.
#2 Michael Owen
Michael Owen might be an often ridiculed man these days, especially with his hilarious comments on the air. However, during his playing days, the Englishman was probably the best striker in the business. Having developed through the Liverpool academy alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Owen made a name for himself with his impressive performances in front of the goal. He was quick, possessed a great vision on and off the ball and had an eye for important goals.
His performances ensured Liverpool were a unit to be feared in the late 90s and early 2000s and with him entering into his formative years, it was largely believed that with Owen leading the line-up, Liverpool had a real chance of ending their wait for the Premier League title.
However, that was not to be as Owen ensured that he made his intentions to leave Liverpool in search of a greater challenge known to the management. The hierarchy at the club eventually ceded to him and Owen moved to Real Madrid to become a part of the Galactico revolution. However, injuries and the presence of numerous other superstars meant that the former Ballon d’Or winner found game time hard to come by.
Having spent just 12 months in Madrid, Owen decided it was a time to move back to England and signed for Newcastle United, making him their record transfer at the time. While his playing days post his movement to the Tyneside were nothing fantastic by his standards, he still managed to score some vital goals for Newcastle United and subsequently Manchester United and Stoke City.
#1 N’Golo Kante
If there is one man whose name is on the lips of every Premier League fan, it has to be Chelsea’s star midfielder N’Golo Kante. The French international arrived at England after having impressed during his time in the French League with Caen whom he helped achieve promotion to the Ligue 1. However, the lack of knowledge of the foreign leagues meant that Kante was deemed as a signing that would largely provide cover for the known names.
Thankfully for Leicester City fans, that was not the case as Kante was immediately drafted into the first team and showed exactly why some of the knowledgeable football fans in France had been shocked that Caen had let their best player leave.
The French midfielder was immense throughout his first season. His industriousness coupled with his ability to disrupt the opposition’s rhythm meant that the other Leicester players were allowed to focus on their attacking duties and his presence reaped rich rewards. Leicester went on to win the Premier League trophy and Kante’s name was etched in the history of the competition.
However, it was not to be his only tryst with the competition as he joined Chelsea at the beginning of the 2016-17 season, just 12 months after signing for the Foxes, and proved to be an absolute game-changer. Kante has won consecutive Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea and given his rapid rise in form, we would not be surprised if the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona come calling in the summer.
