'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Some of football's biggest names have endured extremely forgettable seasons.
Champion footballers are set apart by their ability to make a difference in games on a regular basis. We see a raft of great footballers emerging from the scene and showing great promise and potential every season. However, a footballer's life could be quite unpredictable by virtue of an array of reasons.
Injuries or being at the wrong club could severely hamper the progress and career of footballers. We have seen how players who produce duds at one club immediately turn it around at a new one. We have also seen great players join a new club only for their form to start deteriorating.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five superstar players who have had disastrous seasons.
#5 Thiago Alcantara
Thiago Alcantara is a world-class midfielder who won the continental treble with Bayern Munich last season. When Liverpool announced that Thiago would be arriving at Merseyside last summer, it looked like the perfect signing that would further strengthen an already formidable unit.
However, Thiago's integration into the team was delayed due to an injury. His eventual return has been extremely underwhelming. The former Bayern Munich man has been unable to settle down in the Premier League and has struggled massively. To be fair, Liverpool have had a rather forgettable season so far too.
Thiago has not been able to strike a good midfield partnership with any of Liverpool's midfielders and looks at sea in the center of the park. The 30-year-old has not been able to score a goal or even provide an assist in 17 appearances for Liverpool this season.
#4 Philippe Coutinho
Philippe Coutinho could go down in history as one of the worst ever signings made by Barcelona. The Catalans shelled out in excess of €140 million to sign the Brazilian from Liverpool in 2018. After impressing initially, Coutinho has just been a shadow of his former self at the Camp Nou.
He had an impressive loan spell in the 2019-20 season with Bayern Munich, where he won the continental treble with the Bavarians. He struggled to impress in the first half of the season, scoring three goals and providing two assists in 14 appearances for the Cules.
Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury in December and he is still a long way away from returning to the side. He is almost certain to be sold in the summer and the Brazilian's Barcelona dream is set to come to an end.
#3 Paulo Dybala
Paulo Dybala has been one of Juventus' best players over the past five years. He has been untouchable at Juventus so far but the way things have gone this season, that may no longer be the case.
The Argentine's 2020-21 season has been blighted by injuries. He struggled for form and cut a frustrating figure in the opening months of the 2020-21 campaign. It has reached the point where Andrea Pirlo is reportedly keen to offload him in the summer.
Dybala has started just eight games for the Bianconeri in the Serie A this term. From a total of 16 appearances, the 27-year-old has just three goals and two assists.
He has not come close to the level we're used to seeing from him and with the club not being able to see eye-to-eye with Dybala over a contract extension, he is all set to be offloaded in the summer.
#2 Timo Werner
When Chelsea paid close to €50 million for the services of Timo Werner, they were hoping to put their goalscoring troubles to rest. However, it is possible that the German may have worsened the issue. Timo Werner has been so poor in front of goal this season that even his insane misses are now met with a lack of surprise.
Werner thrived at RB Leipzig where he had a lot of space to run into and at Chelsea, he has shown glimpses of the quality he possesses. However, his finishing has been pedestrian throughout the season.
Many of his misses have gone trending on Twitter this year and it'll be interesting to see if the Blues will try to sign another striker this summer. The 25-year-old has just five goals from 28 appearances this season.
#1 Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard was virtually unstoppable in his final years at Chelsea and when Real Madrid broke the bank to rope him in during the summer of 2019, it looked like an inspired move. However, Eden Hazard's dream move to Real Madrid couldn't have gone any worse.
Hazard, who was not exactly injury prone during his time at Chelsea, has spent more time in the nursing room at the Santiago Bernabeu than he has on the pitch. He has not played the full 90 for a year and a half now. Even when he has featured, he has looked like a shadow of his former self.
Hazard has scored just three goals for Real Madrid across two La Liga seasons and provided four assists. Hazard has fallen from grace and how! It wouldn't be surprising if Eden Hazard was offloaded in the summer to make way for a marquee signing.
