From Fernando Torres to Adriano – Europe’s 10 worst transfers of 2010-11

By
-
0
112

22 Apr 2011 10:26:00

Related Links

Teams

Players

The missing piece of the jigsaw; that one player who makes all the trouble go away. Every team in Europe wants one, needs one and spends the time and money ensuring that transfer objectives are met.

For whatever reason, it does not always work out. Players can be incompatible, inadequate, undisciplined and teams are left with the uncomfortable realisation that they signed a dud, despite their best efforts.

For every Chicharito, there’s a Bebe. For every Mesut Ozil, a Pedro Leon. Even the best clubs in the world can’t get it right all the time.

And so, here we detail the worst transfers of the season.

We judged the 10 worst transfers for 2010-11 based on:

  • The player’s overall contribution (this being the most important factor)
  • How the player fitted into his new line-up
  • How quickly the player adapted to his new surroundings, and vice-versa
  • The transfer fee paid, if any, and any other financial details known. (Transfer fees unconfirmed by either club or otherwise unknown are given as approximations and are marked in italics.)

So, please find below Goal.com’s countdown of the ten most ill-advised pieces of business from the 2010-11 European season.

10
Mario MANDZUKIC

 Appearances: 23
 Goals Scored: 1
Assists: 2
 Wolfsburg Dinamo Zagreb – £7m

The 24-year-old was billed as the next big thing upon his departure from his homeland and arrival at Steve McClaren’s Wolfsburg. The 2008-09 German champions have conducted a scatter gun transfer campaign and are languishing at the wrong end of the table.

Mandzukic has not been able to command a starting berth and has looked impetuous and edgy during his fleeting substitute appearances. Die Woelfe paid a hefty fee for the Croatian and he has not come close to repaying it.
9
Pedro LEON

 Appearances: 9
 Goals Scored: 1
Assists: 0
 Real Madrid Getafe – £8.8mReal Madrid are a team reborn, closing in on a Champions League final and already with a Copa del Rey title delivered. But the 23-year-old signed from Getafe has played a minimal part in Jose Mourinho’s revolution.

He enraged his coach earlier in the season by refusing to obey his tactical instructions, and has subsequently been frozen out. Given the huge fee involved, it is difficult to see how Leon can rescue his career at the Bernabeu, certainly while the ‘Special One’ remains in the dugout.
8
Marco MOTTA

 Appearances: 28
 Goals Scored: 0
Assists: 2
 Juventus