Millions spent on famous footballers but they didn't materialize

Manos Staramopoulos • 3 de febrero de 2025

Transfers are a fact that always attract the interest of fans. Many of them succeed and catch on, but some others do not.

The brazilian talent Neymar, in his stage with PSG in 2019.

Transfers are a fact that always attract the interest of fans. Many of them succeed and catch on, but some others do not. And although they have cost a … fortune. But that's how football is. Not everything can succeed.

Now we had the Brazilian striker, Neymar, who is paid more than that by Al-Hilal (around 100 million euros per year) and cannot offer what everyone expected. Of course, Neymar is not the first time he has failed. With the exception of his time at Barcelona (and Messi by his side), not even at Paris Saint-Germain was he able to repay even half of the 222,000,000 euros that the owner of the French team, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, spent to buy out his clause and bring him to Paris.

So, taking advantage of Neymar's not-so-good performance, regardless of the money given, let's find out which expensive transfers did not deliver as expected...

Philippe COUTINHO: Liverpool - Barcelona (2018)

When Neymar left, the Barcelona management, in an attempt to appease their fans, took the international Brazilian midfielder, Coutinho, from Liverpool. He agreed to pay 120 million. Euro, plus 40 million euros in potential bonuses, His most significant contribution during his 4 years at Barcelona was almost non-existent. They eventually sold him to Aston Villa for just 20 million euros in 2022.

James RODRIGUEZ: Monaco – Real Madrid (2014)

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez went crazy watching the young virtuoso midfielder, James Rodriguez, in the Colombian national team's run to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Real acquired him by paying 80 million euros but only in his first season. He had some good moments. With the arrival of Zidane, he was put on the bench…

Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC: Inter – Barcelona (2009)

His transfer to Barcelona was one of the most disastrous deals of all time. The “blaugrana” paid 69.5 million euros to Inter for the Swede, but “they also handed over the 2009 Champions League hero”, Samuel Eto’o, who then helped the “nerazzurri” win the treble, after eliminating “Barça” in the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Ibrahimovic's relationship with the then-team boss Pep Guardiola had completely collapsed, with the Swede accusing the Catalan of "not having the... guts"

Harry MAGUIRE : Leicester - Manchester United (2019)

Leicester is a different size than Manchester United. United's management paid the sum of 86. Million euros and took him home. But the tall English international stopper was never able to justify this exorbitant amount.

ROMELU LUKAKU: Everton – Manchester United (2017)

Romelu Lukaku certainly started well at “Old Trafford”, scoring 10 goals in his first 9 appearances, breaking the record held by the legendary Bobby Charlton. From then on, however, the Belgian centre-forward fell into incredible difficulty and it was logical that at some point his coach (first Mourinho) and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would use him less and less. The 85 million euros spent were a complete failure.

History repeated itself in 2021 when Chelsea brought him back for €113 million from Inter. But even then he didn't show anything different. His performances were dismal.

Kepa ARRIZABALAGA : Athletic Bilbao – Chelsea (2018)

Kepa, as he is widely known, is the most expensive goalkeeper transfer in the world. Chelsea, which paid €80 million to Bilbao to acquire him in 2018, is still looking for a buyer to sell him.

Antoine GRIEZMANN: Atletico Madrid – Barcelona (2019)

Antoine Griezmann rejected Barcelona's offer of cooperation in 2018, but accepted it the following year. Then Barcelona bought out the €120 million release clause and brought the French international forward to them. .But at the “Camp Nou” his good moments were few and far between, something he himself realized. He returned to Atletico initially on loan and then on a regular transfer and found himself again…

Nicolas PEPE Lille – Arsenal (2019)

The Ivorian left-footed right winger was impressive in France with Lille but failed to do anything at Arsenal, who acquired him for €80 million. The Gunners were so disappointed that they let him go to Trabzonspor without a single euro. Despite the fact that he had one more year on his contract.

ANTHONY: Ajax – Manchester United (2022)

Brazilian winger Anthony initially looked like he would offer a lot to United when they signed him for €90m from Ajax. But apart from a few flashes, he hasn't shown any signs of improvement and is now trying to loan him to Spanish side Betis...

JOAO FELIX: Benfica – Atletico Madrid (2019)

Joao Félix When he was playing for the Portuguese team, he had many offers. But the 126 million euros that Atletico Madrid paid in the summer of 2019, no other team would offer them. So he joined the Spanish team but was rarely able to find a place in its starting lineup, because his coach, Argentine Diego Simeone, demanded that his attackers work as hard as his midfielders and defenders. So Felix couldn't cope there...

Paul POGBA: Juventus - Manchester United (2016)

Paul Pogba has been to Old Trafford twice. Once as a youngster and he left in 2012 (Juventus). and 10 years later. When they didn't renew his contract. United, in 2016, had paid the sum of 110 million euros to get him from Juventus. But again, he rarely justified his presence…

Eden HAZARD Chelsea – Real Madrid (2019)

How Eden Hazard expected to wear the Real Madrid jersey. The Spanish team acquired him by paying the sum of 100 million euros to Chelsea, but both the injuries, as well as the Belgian's not very strong will and determination to get well quickly, did not allow him to stand out. In fact, at one point he appeared overweight while looking like a cheap imitation of the footballer who had shone in the Premier League for 7 years. . He left the "Santiago Bernabeu" without having played a single minute in a Clasico!