15 players who shouldn’t have left the club

 

Some transfers seem to make sense but turn out to be career-ending mistakes. Whether it was due to ambition, error of judgement or forced by circumstance, these players found the road ahead difficult after leaving the club where they once truly thrived. Here are 15 players who, in hindsight, should have stayed put.

15. Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool to Barcelona (2018)

At Liverpool, Coutinho was the creative heart of the team. His £142 million move to Barcelona quickly fell through. Injuries, inconsistency and a mismatch in style plagued his time in Spain. Meanwhile, Liverpool soared without him and reinvested that transfer fee to win the Champions League and Premier League titles.

14. Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal to Manchester United (2018)

At Arsenal, Sanchez was an inspiring performer. His move to Manchester United was reportedly for wage reasons, but it led to a sharp decline in form. He never regained his energy and rhythm and soon fell out of the starting line-up, eventually moving to Inter Milan to rebuild his career.

13. Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea (2011)

Torres was a poor performer at Liverpool, with pace, finishing and talent. He moved to Chelsea for £50 million with heavy expectations. Despite winning trophies, he never reached his previous peaks and his form irreversibly declined in west London.

12. Mesut Ozil – Real Madrid to Arsenal (2013)

Ozil left Real Madrid at the height of his powers, where he had formed a devastating link with Cristiano Ronaldo. While he enjoyed moments of glory at Arsenal, the club lacked the elite system he was part of. Tactical changes and off-field issues ultimately led to his marginal departure.

11. Romelu Lukaku – Inter Milan to Chelsea (2021)

Lukaku had just won Inter Milan’s first Serie A title in a decade. His £97.5 million return to Chelsea started brilliantly but was derailed by injuries, tactical errors and a controversial interview. He never again dominated like he had in Milan.

10. Angel Di Maria – Real Madrid to Manchester United (2014)

Di Maria joined a struggling post-Ferguson side after his man-of-the-match performance in the Champions League final. He never adapted to English football and left after one season. Many felt his decision was hasty and ill-conceived.

9. Antoine Griezmann – Atletico Madrid to Barcelona (2019)

Griezmann was an iconic figure at Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. But at Barcelona, he looked lost and unable to play alongside Messi. The club’s tactical confusion and financial instability made the situation worse. He quietly returned to Real Madrid on loan and later made the move permanent.

8. Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United (2016)

Pogba excelled in Juventus’ balanced midfield. Manchester United brought him back for a world record transfer fee, expecting him to dominate the team. However, inconsistent form, injuries and managerial instability followed. He left in 2022, having never fully realized his potential.

7. Gareth Bale – Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur (loan, 2020)

While his initial move from Tottenham to Real Madrid was a success, his loan experience back in North London was an uncomfortable one. Bale was no longer the explosive winger he once was, and the team’s development trajectory was not suitable for a player who needed playing time and rhythm.

6. Kaka – AC Milan to Real Madrid (2009)

Kaka was highly sought after at AC Milan and had just won the Ballon d’Or. At Real Madrid, he was plagued by injuries and his tactical system was incompatible with the rise of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he eventually fell into obscurity. After returning to AC Milan, he never showed the same charm as before.

5. Jack Wilshere – Arsenal to West Ham United (2018)

Wilshere’s Arsenal career was plagued by injuries, but he was still a fan favorite and had a rare talent among English midfielders. The move to West Ham United should have been a new beginning, but then his physical problems followed and his career went to the free agent market.

4. Cesc Fabregas – Arsenal to Barcelona (2011)

Fabregas served as captain and key player at Arsenal. After returning to Barcelona, where he played as a child, he played in many positions but never became a regular. Arsenal were left without a midfield leader after his departure, and his influence in Spain was fleeting.

3. Michael Owen – Liverpool to Real Madrid (2004)

Owen was a hero at Anfield, a Ballon d’Or winner and a consistent scorer. At Real Madrid, he struggled behind Ronaldo, Raul and Morientes. He left after one season and never reached the same heights again.

2. Thiago Alcantara – Bayern Munich to Liverpool (2020)

Thiago was mesmerizing in his prime. At Bayern, he had pace, dominance and an attacking system that matched his intelligence. At Liverpool, injuries hampered his rhythm and, while he still showed moments of brilliance, he could no longer control games as he did in Germany.

1. Neymar – Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (2017)

Neymar left Barcelona’s golden XI, where he formed one of the greatest attacking tridents in football with Messi and Suarez. At PSG, he chased the Ballon d’Or dream but fell short. Injuries, off-field turmoil and a low profile in Ligue 1 worked against him. Despite winning domestic titles, he never found the platform and success he was destined to have at Camp Nou.