Manchester United, Liverpool, Leeds United, and Sunderland are among those to fall foul of deceptive showings in recent years.
Scouts beware! Playing well at an international tournament does not automatically mean they will be a success at your club.
A number of players have been purchased because of outstanding international showings in recent years, and there have been successes. But often those performances can be simply a flash in the pan.
With Euro 2012 set to start tomorrow, here is a topical look at five who flattered to deceive…
Karel Poborsky
Perhaps the most infamous of the lot, Karel Poborsky’s chip over Vitor Baia at Euro 1996 remains one of the most memorable goals of the tournament. It was enough to convince Sir Alex Ferguson to shed out £3.5 million and bring him to Old Trafford. He played just one and a half seasons, his best moment a goal he belted home in a 4-0 demolition of Leeds, but moment like that were few and far between. He left to play for Benfica and Lazio before returning to his homeland, and was a veteran member of the Czech side at the 2006 World Cup making 118 appearances for his national side before retiring from football in 2007. It would be a mistake Sir Alex repeated six years later with Kleberson, another ill-fated signing made on the back of the 2002 World Cup.
Salif Diao
Liverpool had ‘secured’ the services of El Hadji Diouf prior to World Cup 2002, where his Senegal side upset holders France in the opening game. They progressed to the quarter finals and midfield general Salif Diao persuaded Gerard Houllier to sign him up too. He paid £5 million for his services, but like Diouf, his time an Anfield was a letdown by comparison to the World Cup. He made over 30 appearances for Liverpool and remained on their books until 2007, taking in various loan spells along the way including Birmingham and Portsmouth before Stoke City. He settled at Stoke where he has been ever since, making more than 100 appearances, although this season made just 14 and has been released.
Tomas Brolin
Tomas Brolin was one of Sweden’s stars of World Cup 1994, inspiring the side to an impressive third place finish. At that time he was playing for Parma, then one of Italy’s big clubs, alongside Gianfranco Zola. His progress inspired a move to Leeds United in 1995, with Howard Wilkinson hailing the £4.5 million signing as one which would push Leeds back to become title challengers again. It turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. The warning signs were there, with Parma’s coach expressing concerns over his fitness, and at Elland Road he was shown to be too unfit for the rigours of the Premier League. He suffered injuries too which restricted him to just 20 appearances, and Leeds never saw a return on their investment. He re-signed with Crystal Palace later in 2007 after spells in Italy and Switzerland, and retired aged just 29.
Roque Junior
Peter Reid’s management at Leeds United lurched from disappointment to disaster, and Roque Junior’s involvement was a particular low point. He was brought in on loan from AC Milan in 2003, billed as a World Cup winner, but it was not a good move for player or club. He made just five appearances, in which the club conceded 24 goals. His debut saw him earn a red card, and two goals in a League Cup loss was not enough to save his reputation. Keen going forward and abject in defence, he was every much the stereotypical Brazilian centre-back, and did not seem the same player who had helped Brazil to victory in Korea and Japan a year earlier.
Asamoah Gyan
Ghanaian international Asamoah Gyan became Sunderland’s record signing when Steve Bruce shelled out £13 million for his signature in 2010. He has been Ghana’ star striker at the World Cup in South Africa months before, infamously missing a penalty against Uruguay. He had a good start, teaming with Darren Bent and the on-loan Danny Welbeck to create a potent attack, but when Bent was sold months later it was the beginning of the end for Gyan. He was clearly just after a big payday, which was exactly what he earned, when he forced through a loan move to UAE side Al-Ain last September. He is unlikely ever to wear a Sunderland shirt again, and is not a popular man on Wearside.
Who else should be on this list?
image: © vagueonthehow
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
