With one of the longest transfers in history (it seems) still ongoing this summer, namely Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba’s speculated return to Manchester United, he isn’t the only player that will have cost a club a significant uplift when they decided they probably shouldn’t have let them move on in the first place.
Now of course players have moved on for a variety of reasons, not wanting to agree to a new contract in the search of more regular action, seeking a new challenge, tempted by more money – the actual reason is irrelevant – and it certainly won’t stop fans of other clubs having a wry smile at the perceived mistakes of others.
Pogba of course was on United’s books before being released for free by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2012. Roll on a few years and with over 100 appearances for record breaking Italian side Juventus, the 23 year old has been this summer’s hottest property with reports of a transfer fee of in excess of £100million being discussed with both United and Real Madrid for a period of time.
Free to £100million – football has gone mad.
It’s not just a side like Manchester United or a manager like Sir Alex Ferguson that can get caught up in something like this, Barcelona feature when it comes to their former Academy graduate Cesc Fabregas.
Fabregas left the Nou Camp as a fresh faced 16 year old back in 2003 and rocked up at Arsenal where he more than established his talent, making over 300 appearances for them. In 2011 he returned to Barcelona for a cool fee of £35million.
There are also blasts from the past who feature, but going back to the 1990’s the fees look far more sensible for a couple of minutes.
Left back Graeme Le Saux left Chelsea for Blackburn Rovers and Ewood Park park in 1993 for a snip £700,000. Having picked up a Premier League title during his time at the club, he returned to Stamford Bridge for £5million in 1997.
For Chelsea fans, well they unfortunately feature again, this time the curious case of Nemanja Matic. He arrived at the club for £1.5million back in 2009 but was let go just 24 months later. Having blossomed at Benfica, it took a fee of £21million to return him to Stamford Bridge in 2014.
The ever efficient Germans aren’t fool proof here either.
Mats Hummels came through Bayern Munich’s youth system, but having failed to break into their first team he moved on to Borussia Dortmund in 2009 for just £1million. Bayern shelled out a cool £28million last May to bring the 27 year old back to the club.
Now French giants Paris Saint-Germain also feature in the list courtesy of Nicolas Anelka. The much travelled striker moved from PSG to Arsenal for £500,000 back in 1997 and his round trip return to Parc des Princes saw a spell at Real Madrid. He returned to France for £22million in 2000.
Also much travelled striker Peter Crouch features twice in the list.
His first appearance in the list concerns his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Queens Park Rangers back in 2000 for a fee around the £60,000 mark. Returning to White Hart Lane in 2009 for a round £10million was certainly costly.
His second appearance on the list concerns his time at Portsmouth. Having joined them for £1.5million following QPR’s relegation, they then sold him to Aston Villa for £5million. He returned to Fratton Park in 2008 after his spell at Liverpool, costing £11million to make it happen.
Borussia Dortmund benefited last time they were mentioned, not so much this time round. Marco Reus left Dortmund as a teenager for Rot Weiss Ahlen, then moving on to Borussia Monchengladback. His performances for them saw Dortmund activate his £14.5million release fee in 2012.
Gerard Pique came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy in 2004 and promptly left for Manchester United as a free transfer. In 2004 his return to the Nou Camp cost his original side £5million in 2008.
Robbie Keane and Tottenham Hotspur next. Keane moved to White Hart Lane in 2002 for £7million from Leeds United. Having spent six years with them before a less than successful spell at Liverpool, he returned to Tottenham for £12million.
Tottenham are popular on the list, and they are back with Jermaine Defoe. Having left White Hart Lane for Portsmouth in 2008 for £6million, a successful spell at Fratton Park saw him return to Spurs for £16million.
Alan Shearer was rejected by Newcastle United as a youngster after a trial. Having fired Blackburn Rovers to a Premier League title, Newcastle were interested in him once more, but it took a then world record transfer fee of £15million to enable the fan to play for his home town team.
With plenty of signings costing more to bring back, there are a few where the club benefited or at least wasn’t that far out of pocket.
Shaun Wright-Phillips made the move to Manchester City for free aged 17 years old, and subsequently earned a £21million transfer to Chelsea. He returned three seasons later for only £8.5million.
Brazilian wizard and little man Juninho arrived at Middlesbrough from Sao Paulo for £4.75million back in 1995 and two years later he made the move to Atletico Madrid for £13million. The spell wasn’t a great success and he returned to Teeside for £6million in 2002.
South African midfielder Steven Pienaar moved to Everton from Borussia Dortmund for £2million in 2008 before departing for Tottenham Hotspur. A horrible spell with injuries saw him return to Goodison Park for £4.5million.
Martin Keown left Arsenal for free for Aston Villa after coming through their academy. Impressive performances for Villa, and then Everton saw him return to Arsenal for £2million in 1993.
Don Hutchison joined West Ham United in 1994 for £1.5million. Having moved on to Sheffield United, Everton and Sunderland, he returned to Upton Park for £5million in 2001.
A White Hart Lane deal returns here. Younes Kaboul arrived at Tottenham Hotspur from Auxerre for a reported £8million in 2007. He spent a year at Spurs moving to Portsmouth for £6million in 2007 and 12 months later he was back at Tottenham for a reported £9.5million fee.
Legwork by Express.co.uk.
