Before a ball was even kicked at the World Cup, news outlets were reporting that the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United were looking at signing FC Bayern’s Jerome Boateng.
With over 70 international caps for Germany to his name, plus a whole slew of silverware that includes the 2014 World Cup, the ball-playing centre-half would seem like an ideal signing for most teams. Unfortunately for Boateng, though, his performances at the 2018 World Cup may see those potential suitors looking elsewhere for defensive cover.
Having been part of the German defence that was torn apart by Mexico in the team’s first game of the World Cup, Boateng’s tournament went from bad to worse as he was sent off against Sweden, causing him to be suspended for the nation’s final game in which they were knocked out of the competition after a 2-0 defeat to South Korea.