It’s official. Barcelona has made the controversial emergency signing of Martin Braithwaite from Leganes for 18m euros. This comes after French International, Ousmane Dembele injured himself for 6 months thus missing the entirety of this season and the Euros as well. Barcelona were favorites to sign Willian Jose from Real Sociedad but settled for Braithwaite. Braithwaite has signed a contract that runs till 2024 and a release clause of 300m euros.
The question is mainly, WHY? A Middlesbrough rejects who played on loan last year before signing a 4-year contract with Leganes in July doesn’t seem to be the best option for replacing Ousmane Dembele. Scoring 8 goals in 27 games, he was the lone striker for Leganes who are battling relegation.
Here we look at some of the weirdest transfers that clubs have made -
Bebe (Vitoria de Guimaraes to Manchester United)
Once said to be the next Ronaldo, Alex Ferguson signed him back in 2010 for 7m euros from Vitoria. Bebe wasn’t loaned out in the first season and was kept with the first team to prove his worth. In the 4 years, he was with Manchester United, he played only 7 matches and was sold to Benfica at the start of the 2014-15 season. What baffled us and fans alike was that as there was interest from Real Madrid as well, Sir Alex Ferguson signed him after a recommendation from an Assistant Coach and hadn’t bothered to see him play beforehand as well.
Julian Faubert (West Ham to Real Madrid)
A loan move from West Ham to Real Madrid may be a huge step to take for most, and Julian Faubert was among the most. “His agent should be knighted by the Queen.” The words of Paul Merson, after the transfer, was confirmed. He was signed in 2008-09 during the winter transfer season and was surrounded by controversies when he missed a training session as he got confused thinking it was an off day and was pictured asleep on the bench against Villareal. The deal wasn’t made final and he returned to West Ham next season.
Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal to Juventus)
As per Lord Bendtner, it was justified, but it puzzled most fans and pundits combined. Signed at the beginning of the 2012/13 season, the club admitted they hadn’t sold one Bendtner shirt till March. The Dane, who had last plied his trade at Sunderland the season before, managed to pick up only a handful of substitute appearances and two starts. Injuries were to blame, but not more than the fact that he was Bendtner.
Fabio Borini (Southampton to AC Milan)
AC Milan splashed the cash, back in 2017 to strengthen their squad with CL in their minds. In the midst of big names like Bonucci, Andre Silva, Hakan Calhanoglu was also Fabio Borini from Sunderland, who had just been demoted to the 2nd league. The Striker had managed just 20 goals in his previous 131 games for both the Wearsiders and Liverpool, including just two in the last season, yet the £1.5million loan deal also included an obligation to buy him at the end of the year.
However, Borini could only do what he can and contributed 5 goals and 6 assists in 44 games.
Do you remember any more of such an astonishing transfer? If so add them!
