10 big-money footballers who failed miserably

#8 Denilson de Oliviera

Denilson.

We go back further in time with this one. In 1998, Brazilian winger Denilson was made the most expensive footballer in the world by Spanish club Real Betis who shelled out £21.5 million for his services. He played for the club in 186 games but bizarrely, Betis were relegated to the Segunda division in his first season.

Though he was more productive in his later season, he had become a squad player by the time the Seville club made it to the Champions League in 2004-05. He scored just 13 times during his spell at Betis.

#7 Carlos Tevez

Carlos Tevez.

It is remarkable that Carlos Tevez is still playing football back in Argentina for Boca Juniors. Tevez was one of the best strikers of his time, especially during spells with the two Manchester Clubs.

However, Tevez has to feature on this list for his disastrous spell with Shanghai Shenhua in 2017. He moved to the Far East for a whopping £71.6 million and was reportedly made the highest-paid footballer in the world, but the Argentine played just 20 times for the club in which he scored four goals.

He was deemed overweight and unfit by the team, and it was clear he did not take his spell in China seriously, even calling it a 'holiday'. Just that it was the greatest paid-holiday in the history of mankind.

QUOTE: Carlos Tevez on leaving Shanghai:🗣 "I was on holiday for seven months in China. 🇨🇳 It's fine for the Shanghai coach and president to criticise me, I didn't know what I was doing there." 😳💸 Price Per Game: £1,690,000💸 Price Per Goal: £8,450,000 pic.twitter.com/2rcjeaJKFb

— SPORF (@Sporf) January 15, 2018

#6 Gaizka Mendieta

Gaizka Mendieta.

Time for us to go back in time again. Gaizka Mendieta was one of the most highly-rated creative midfielders in the world when he moved to Lazio for €47.7 million in 2001 from Valencia.

However, that was the beginning of the end for the Spaniard. Made the sixth-most expensive footballer at the time, Mendieta failed horribly in Italy, not even getting one goal in 31 games before he was loaned out to Barcelona where he had another underwhelming season.

Football is a cruel game, and his great exploits with Valencia were quickly forgotten as he moved to Middlesborough before rapping up his career.

#5 Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres.

Some may question this selection. After all, Fernando Torres netted a dramatic goal that helped Chelsea reach the Champions League final they won in 2012.

However, considering he was considered the best striker of his generation when he made the contentious move to the Blues from Liverpool for £50 million, he has to be termed one of the biggest big-money flops ever.

He scored 20 times in 111 Premier League games, but Chelsea fans still hold him in high regard because of that one moment. Football, after all, is inherently a game of emotions that can mask the financial aspect of it in its most poignant moments.

Eight years since Fernando Torres put Chelsea in the Champions League final 👑pic.twitter.com/ByQrKRt34k

— Goal (@goal) April 24, 2020