'%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)
2018 has been an exciting year for football especially with fans witnessing a competitive World Cup where underdogs refused to be brushed aside; mainstay players rocked the world with transfers and football saw an immense change in its landscape with the introduction of VAR. It has truly been an eventful year for the game, but there is one aspect of the game that we never get tired of seeing, the revival of a player's career. There are so many football players across the world that start out with so much promise but fail to capitalise on their potential for one reason or another and just drift into the vast ocean of mediocrity. You don't often see these players come back stronger and prove a point to their critics but when it does happen it is the ultimate romanticism that can be witnessed in football.
Often players need to move away from their clubs to start afresh and build their career, and all three players on this list did precisely that. So, in an attempt to commend their achievements, here are the top 3 players who resurrected their careers in 2018.
#3 Axel Witsel- Borussia Dortmund
The Belgian International has been pivotal in Dortmund's resurgence as a European powerhouse. But it wasn't all peach and roses for Witsel before this.
Axel Witsel was one of the most sought-after players in Europe in 2016. The central midfielder was a key player for Russian Club Zenit St. Petersberg and had even established himself as a key figure in the Belgian National team. With Europe's elite clubs battling it out for his signature, Witsel probably made the biggest mistake of his career when he signed for Chinese Super League Club Tianjin Quanjian.
He wasn't a bad player in China and the €20 million a season certainly helped the central midfielder move to the lucrative league. But after moving to China in January 2017, Witsel forced a move to Dortmund in August 2018, with his lawyers getting involved in a Legal battle with Tianjin Quanjian. It's a shame that Witsel wasted one and a half years of his prime in a Country that is renowned to be a retired player's paradise. But as they say, better late than never and now Witsel is doing something special at one of the most exciting clubs in Europe.
#2 Lucas Digne- Everton
The French left-back started out as one of the most exciting full-backs in France but a series of moves to big clubs and long periods on the bench seemed to have halted Digne's progress. But now at Everton, the Frenchman seems to have found his mojo again.
Digne first came into prominence at Lile and his good performances led to a €15 Million move to Paris Saint Germain. Digne spent a lot of time on the bench playing as a backup to Brazilian veteran Maxwell and the Parisians Loaned him out to Roma. At the Italian capital, Digne made 33 appearances scoring three goals across the 2015-16 Season and became a sought-after Left-back once again.
It was Barcelona that won the race for Lucas Digne and he transferred to the Camp Nou in 2016 for €20 Million. Digne once again played understudy to Jordi Alba and was primarily a squad rotation player during his time with the Catalan giants. The 25-year-old finally pulled the plug on his Barca career and moved to Everton this summer and Digne has hit the ground running with Everton this season with 3 goals and 2 assists. The Frenchman has also made a comeback to the national team and now it's all looking up for him.
#1 Paco Alcacer
No surprises here, Paco Alcacer takes the number one spot hands down. The way the Spaniard has turned his career around at Borussia Dortmund has been inspiring and is the biggest comeback story this year.
Alcacer was a decent and reliable striker at Valencia. When he transferred to Barcelona his job was to play as an understudy to the deadly attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. Alcacer scored only 15 Goals in 50 appearances at the Blaugrana and was sent out on loan to Borussia Dortmund with a €23 Million option to buy. Majority of the headlines mocked Dortmund for signing Barcelona's 'flop striker' and Paco Alcacer proved his critics wrong.
The Spaniard has had his fair share of minor injuries this season missing a total of 5 games for Dortmund but almost every time he's taken the field he's scored. The former Barca forward has scored 14 Goals in 15 appearances for the club and has even set the Bundesliga record for most number of goals scored from the bench in a single campaign. Alcacer made his move permanent on 23rd November signing a 5-year-contract and has even become a regular in the Spanish team. With regular strikers, Alvaro Morata and Diego Costa showing a slump in form Alcacer can really capitalise on the situation and cement his place in the national side.
