5 world-class footballers who struggled in a new system

#3 Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez suffered a torrid time at Manchester United

Arguably the most underwhelming Premier League signing in recent years, Alexis Sanchez’s move to Manchester United in January 2018 was bitterly disappointing. With 80 goals and 45 assists for Arsenal, the then 29-year-old was widely acknowledged as one of the best players in England.

Signed in a swap deal that saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to the Emirates, Manchester United made Sanchez their highest earner. The Chilean was given a £350,000-per-week contract and the rest is history.

Sanchez made 45 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring just five times and providing nine assists.

The forward looked a shadow of the player who had terrorized defenses across the world for half a decade. The switch from Arsene Wenger’s free-flowing set-up to Mourinho’s rigid, defensive block was not an easy one for Sanchez. The Chilean was used to the freedom to move around the forward line at will, which he no longer had at Old Trafford.

Sanchez, who spent the late stages of his Arsenal career in a central role up top, was often isolated on the wings. With his body in decline and plagued by injuries, the Chile star did not have the legs or the pace to burst up and down the flanks.

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#2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Pep Guardiola did not get along at Barcelona.

The best example of a great player at the wrong club, Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrived at Barcelona in his prime years.

Ibrahimovic scored 29 goals to go with 11 assists for Inter Milan in the 2008-09 season. It convinced the Blaugrana to sign the Swede in a massive deal for a reported £57million plus Samuel Eto’o.

Although this transfer is looked back upon as a failure, he still scored 22 goals and provided 13 assists in 46 appearances for Barcelona. It was an excellent return for a new signing in a testing system.

The fact that Ibrahimovic spent a solitary season at Barcelona is telling. The Swede clashed with Pep Guardiola amidst rumors that Lionel Messi was unhappy being pushed out wide after being displaced from a central role.

Ibrahimovic’s aerial ability and hold-up play didn't quite fit into Barcelona’s intricate, short-passing system. Guardiola eventually chose to yield to his Argentine superstar and Zlatan was loaned to AC Milan at the end of his only season in Spain.

The Swede's time in Barcelona was summed up by his statement on Pep Guardiola:

"When you buy me, you are buying a Ferrari. If you drive a Ferrari, you put premium petrol in the tank, you hit the motorway and you step on the gas. Guardiola filled up with diesel and took a spin in the countryside. He should have bought a Fiat."

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#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is yet to score in Ligue 1 for PSG

Lionel Messi’s move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is the ultimate proof that even the greatest players don’t always figure it out straight away. It is still early days and the Argentine superstar will undoubtedly come to the fore sooner rather than later. But his first few months in Paris have not been easy.

Messi was signed on a free transfer after the expiration of his contract with Barcelona this summer. It is no surprise that the Argentine is still adapting to new surroundings after spending almost two decades in Spain.

Messi has continued to impress, however, in the more familiar UEFA Champions League and has scored three goals in three UCL appearances for PSG.

However, he is yet to open his account in Ligue 1. The French top-flight is more physical than La Liga, as the Spanish first division focuses on the technical side of the game.

Meanwhile, Mauricio Pochettino has been unable to get the best out of his star-studded squad. PSG are still working out how to accommodate the superstar trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Messi.

The Argentine has often found himself out on the right flank. Rather than on the wings, Messi flourishes in a more central role, sitting right behind the striker. This allows him to find pockets of space, pull the strings and dictate play with his wide range of passing.

Messi has, however, been growing in influence and it is only a matter of time before fans see him back at his dazzling best.