Following on from the “Treated Like a Dog” Statement from Tevez, what football players do you know that were amazing, went to a big club and then shipped off with their bus fare and a slapped ass? Here’s five candidates:
Francis Jeffers
After scoring 20 goals in 60 appearances for Everton in his debut season at only 16 years old, Big Franny Jeffers was destined for bigger and better things. At the time nothing came bigger or better than Arsenal and when a bid for £8million came in which was a substantial amount at the time, he was off faster than a pint of full fat left in the sun. This was however his downfall and he was soon loaned back to Everton and then a succession of clubs before finishing his career with Australian side Newcastle Jets. Following on from Everton, he has played 168 games and scored 19 goals.
STAT: Along with David Nugent, Francis Jeffers is Englands most prolific goal scorer with 1 shot to 1 goal ratio.
Richard Wright
As we all know Richard Wright was another player destined for big things – he was tipped as the future England goalkeeper of choice and the long term successor to David Seaman at Arsenal. Despite this, he wasn’t given the time and confidence that he needed. After punching the ball into his own net, he was then disregarded as a goalkeeper and lost his place in England’s first team to which he never regained.
Diego Forlan
Diego was bought for his prolific goalscoring record by United and despite the hype, he endured a lacklustre time with Manchester United and never really found form. After a move to Villareal then Athletico Madrid he was back to his best, scoring 138 in 240 appearances and he became the first player to win the Pichichi Trophy twice since Ronaldo achieved this feat in 2003–04. You have to ask yourself what went wrong at United and was it a case of a clash with Alex Ferguson?
Andriy Shevchenko
Bought for a massive fee of £31million the then Chelsea striker had forged himself as one of the best strikers in Europe. A goal fest at Dynamo Kiev and then AC Milan where he was so much better than a goal a game. This is where it ended and the curse of the EPL came into play. 47 Appeareances and 9 Goals for a man that should have had more than 30.
Massimo Taibi
Who can forget this goalkeeper? Touted as hot stuff when he signed for £4.5million in 1999. Yet he faced an error strewn career at Manchester United that lead to him being known as ‘The Blind Venetian’. This was all too much for Alex Ferguson and he ended his days there with only 4 games.
This is to only name just a few.
Tevez may feel like he has been treated like a dog but at least Man City want him back!
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