5 players that clubs regret selling

Football is evolving; there’s no two ways about it. In order to spring to the dizzy heights of Champions League glory, clubs now need to ensure they are as clinical off the pitch as they are on it.The days when clubs could snap up world beaters on a free are a distant memory; teams can now lure the greatest only with hefty fees, which takes a toll on their finite budgets. So how do the big boys across Europe continue to fuel their financial mills? Indeed, the most effective method seems to be flogging the apparent dead weight in their respective squads; a simple and relatively obvious solution. Very often, a player may be wrongly suited to a gargantuan outfit and, therefore, a move away suits both parties. The individual enjoys a new challenge at a more appropriate playing level, and the fee paid for him acts as leverage for the big club’s next bumper deal.On the contrary, the said player may be an unrealised gem with the potential to flourish into the next Lionel Messi. This happens far more regularly than we anticipate. A manager deems the youngster surplus to requirements, only to see his estimated worth elevate to triple the original 12 months down the line, and the selling club are left scratching their heads.Let’s take a look at five sales in particular which the teams are probably regretting.

#1 Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea > Liverpool)

The Brendan Rodgers empire may well have been erased from the memory banks for the majority of Liverpool fans since Jürgen Klopp’s arrival. But there’s no doubting that the Northern-Irishman played a pivotal part in the Reds’ pursuit of Daniel Sturridge.

On the fringes of a star-studded Chelsea crop, Sturridge was more often than not deployed on the flank where he struggled to make an impact. Chelsea’s seemingly limitless budget enabled them to lure the continent’s finest, and the Englishman found it difficult to break into the Blues’ frame.

A brief resurrection occurred in 2011, when he was loaned out to Bolton Wanderers, where he immediately made an impact. Played through the centre, Sturridge scored on his debut for the Trotters, bagging an injury-time winner against Wolves. An instant fan-favourite, the forward concluded his spell with a return of 8 goals in 12 games.

Surprisingly, his red-hot form did no favours for Sturridge at Stamford Bridge, and he was sold to Liverpool two years later for a fee of £12 million. But it would be Sturridge who would have the last laugh. He flourished under Rodgers; he had renewed self-belief after he was allocated his desired role through the middle, and he began racking up regular game time.

Having formed a formidable partnership with Luis Suarez and Phillippe Coutinho, Sturridge netted 21 goals in 29 appearances come the close of his first full season. Such great form propelled the forward into England’s No. 9 shirt, and he hasn’t looked back since. Although Chelsea may have.

#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Chelsea > Wolfsburg)

If Sturridge’s departure wasn’t bad enough, the sale of Kevin De Bruyne to Wolfsburg back in 2014 is sure to make the Blues faithful frustrated.

The writing was on the wall from the second the Belgian arrived from Genk back in 2012 for £7 million. Upon arrival De Bruyne announced, "To come to a team like Chelsea is a dream but now I have to work hard to achieve the level that's necessary."

There were indications here of the midfielder’s unprecedented work ethic, yes, but also of the quality the London club already had available to them.

With Juan Mata having already nailed down the No. 10 role and an improving Oscar first in line to supersede the Spaniard, De Bruyne couldn’t worm his way into the starting XI. A brief respite from his relegation to the bench came in a sound loan spell with Werder Bremen, where he scored 10 times in 33 matches. But there was little recognition when he returned to the English capital.

An agitated De Bruyne concluded his Chelsea career with a £17 million switch to Wolfsburg. While the Blues would be happy with the profit made from the deal at the time, they did not forecast such a superb turn-around in the Belgian’s fortunes.

Following an impressive debut season, in which the now 24-year-old bagged 10 goals and 6 assists, De Bruyne spearheaded his side’s eventual second-place finish in Germany’s top-flight. Such pulsating form earned him a bumper move to Manchester City this past transfer window, and ever since then, De Bruyne has set the EPL alight.

#3 Gerard Pique (Manchester United > FC Barcelona)

While this deal does present an air of perspicacity on Manchester United’s part, given the Red Devils’ current defensive frailties, it’s one that they will still rue to this day.

Gerard Piqué – a 16-year-old defensive midfielder impressing in Barcelona’s youth set-up – could hardly believe his luck when an offer from Manchester United came through back in 2004. Due to his age, Piqué didn’t cost Sir Alex Ferguson a penny, but his potential was clear from the very beginning.

Pique was handed just 12 appearances in his time at Old Trafford though, during which he enjoyed a successful loan spell with Real Zaragoza, partnering Gabriel Milito for the most part of his brief tenure. As hard as he tried, Piqué could simply not elevate himself from the bench to be a regular starter. This difficulty was testament to the world-class partnership formed between Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidi, who were simply unbreakable as a pairing.

The shrewdness Manchester United displayed in signing Piqué on a free was practically outdone by the Spaniard’s former club Barcelona, who activated the £5-million release clause in his contract which they themselves had previously set.

Alerting Barcelona to make the bid following his family’s desire to return home, Piqué’s switch to his Catalan homeland remains something Fergie himself surely regrets to this day. The now centre-back has anchored down spots in both his national team and his beloved Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Louis van Gaal struggles back in Manchester to field four accomplished defenders each week. What rotten luck!

#4 Philippe Coutinho (Inter Milan > Liverpool)

Now a crucial component in Liverpool’s attacking armoury, Coutinho’s arrival from Inter Milan for £8.5 million in January 2013 was met with some cynicism by critics. The midfielder had barely made a mark at Inter before the Reds' boss at the time Brendan Rodgers took a punt on the youngster. And what a punt it turned out to be.

Inter Milan’s dealing of Philippe looks, to me, irrational and impatient, as the Nerazzurri went from claiming "Coutinho is the future of Inter" to cashing in on, let’s be honest, a rather pathetic sum of money for such a promising individual. The Serie A side bought Coutinho when he was merely 16 years old, from Vasco de Gama, but loaned him back to the South American giants for two seasons.

After a beneficial season-long loan at Espanyol in La Liga, Coutinho failed to stake his claim in an Inter side blessed with, albeit ageing, talent. But to me it still sounds bizarre that Coutinho wasn’t kept. He was, after all, the only true safety net for a club facing a resounding collapse from grace, as a string of big stars departed for minimal fees (due to their age). That meant the club was left in near-ruin, devoid of a world-class talent.

Coutinho had the potential to live up to the bill but was shipped off to Merseyside, where he has since scored 14 and assisted 19 goals for the Reds. Who knows, had Coutinho remained in Milan, perhaps they would’ve continued their dominance on the European stage.

#5 Xabi Alonso (Liverpool > Real Madrid)

If I were to pin-point the very moment when Liverpool’s decline from league runners-up in 2009 to a side scrambling around in the Europa League qualifying spots began, the finger would waver in the direction of the club’s sale of Spaniard Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid that same summer.

Few players on the planet rival Alonso’s inherent eye for a pass and composure on the ball, but that didn’t prevent Liverpool from selling the world-beater. It was speculated that differences with the gaffer at the time, Rafael Benitez, spurred the departure of a player close to the heart of the Anfield faithful and one who is reported to have not wanted to leave. The Reds slumped to a desolate 7th place finish that season.

This sale evokes regret not necessarily because of the revival of the Spaniard at Real, but also because of the problems it left Liverpool with in the aftermath. The Reds saw their defence sliced open many a time that season, due to the absence of a man who once guarded it with his life.

Alonso maintained his holding role at the Santiago Bernabeu for Real Madrid, where he was consistently focused and racked up over 20 assists, becoming a predominant part of a side that went on to obtain European glory during his time there. We have to ask – had Alonso stayed at Liverpool, would they have won the Premier League title by now?