From Cristiano Ronaldo to Thibaut Courtois, the summer transfer window has been a carnival of surprises. Based on the FIFA World Cup performances, the transfer window equalized into a gradient of promising football players, who delivered a spectrum of the ‘beautiful game’ to the entire world. The likes of Jorginho, Thomas Lemar, Fred and Alisson Becker are in newer pastures, but what of those world class players who waited anxiously for the entire season desperate for a switch?
Gareth Bale – Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur
Fast enough to burn the pitch’. Bale wasn’t quite known for who he was up until the 2012/13 season, that marked his most successful run as a Spurs player; Within a matter of months, the extremely quick Welsh winger grabbed a deal with the most successful club in the history of the sport, making him, at that time the most expensive football player on the planet, with a price tag of £85.1 million.
With instant results, the winger delivered exceptional performances and continued to do so. Breaking records and winning four Champions League titles in a short span of five years (and one at the end of his debut season), the 29-year-old surely is a part of the ‘golden generation’ of Los Blancos.
However, the final of this year’s UEFA Champion’s league spoke differently, as the former Tottenham Hotspur player, after escaping the shadow of former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring two unbelievable goals in Kiev, asked for a switch.
Willian – Chelsea to Manchester United
Widely regarded as one of the most hardworking, quick and technically gifted midfielders in the world, this Brazilian forward is a true force of fury. A maestro in terms of playmaking and goalscoring, the 30-year-old has been going strong every single season and every single game.
Combining himself with the likes of Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, and Ngolo Kante, the former Shakhtar winger managed to win two Premier League titles in quick successions. However, under Antonio Conte, with Hazard, Pedro, and Morata being the real attacking gears for their teams, Willian seemed to be spending more time on the bench and was seen coming on for either of these three forwards. It was time that this attacking marvel needed a switch.
3 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio to Juventus
Serbia’s national team couldn’t quite get past the group stages in the World Cup, but that didn’t contradict the fact that they had a monstrous lineup, comprising the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Nemanja Matic, Dusan Tadic and the much awaited, anticipated and the priciest player of their squad, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The Serbian attacking midfielder, who currently plays for Lazio in the Serie A is a true reflection of world-class, consistent and natural playmaking abilities that the beautiful game comprises. Such is the resilience of this 23-year-old that he has drawn the attention of clubs like Manchester United, Inter, AC Milan and to top them all, Real Madrid.
2 Antoine Greizmann – Atletico Madrid to FC Barcelona
Over the decade, Atletico Madrid have done a miraculous job of producing some of the most important players of the modern era. From the rise and fall of Fernando Torres to a powerhouse known as Diego Costa, and many more. As a matter of fact, they still stand as the toughest competitors to both Barcelona and Real Madrid.
However, none could withstand the impact of this young forward, ranked among Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Greizmann is not just a potential future player of the year candidate, but also a merciless goal-scoring machine.
1 Eden Hazard – Chelsea to Real Madrid
As usual, Hazard needs no introduction for what he is capable of, the maestro of inter-linking passing and goalscoring at the Stamford Bridge has fallen victim to speculations all around the globe. After all, he is one of the top dogs of world football and football in general.
The departure of Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid, however, was a turning point for this 27-year-old Belgian. After a remarkable performance at the FIFA World Cup, earning him the third place in the competition, the Chelsea forward was one of the candidates to replace CR7 at the Bernabeu. The others being Kylian Mbappe – PSG and Neymar Jr. also from PSG.