Messi to Kolo Muani and the five biggest transfer downgrades this season

Carlo Garganese

Updated: 12 May 2024 16:40 BST
3 min read

One of the biggest challenges when selling a first team player is replacing them.

Sometimes, teams improve after buying a new player to replace a departed one.

But, on other occasions, there is a clear regression.

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We look at five downgrades this season.

Karim Benzema to Joselu (Real Madrid)

Karim Benzema will go down as one of the greatest teams players in Real Madrid history.

In 14 years he scored a sensational 348 goals, leading Madrid to multiple titles.

He decided to move to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 and Madrid never really replaced him.

They brought in veteran Joselu as a stop-gap before signing Kylian Mbappe this coming summer.

Joselu has actually done okay on the pitch, even scoring two crucial goals in the Champions League semi final comeback win over Bayern Munich.

But in terms of quality and age, of course he is miles off Benzema’s level and prestige. And he has been a substitute for most of the season.

As a result, Carlo Ancelotti has often played without a number nine this season.

Ilkay Gundogan to Matheus Nunes (Man City)

Ilkay Gundogan was allowed to leave Man City on a free transfer last summer after seven brilliant seasons.

At the age of 32 it was deemed that it was the right time to move on from Gundogan.

Pep Guardiola has now admitted he regrets the decision as Gundogan has maintained a world class level at Barcelona.

His expensive replacement Matheus Nunes has not justified his transfer fee and has mainly been a reserve.

Lionel Messi to Randal Kolo Muani (PSG)

From the greatest player of his generation to one of the biggest flops of the season.

PSG had something of a revolution last summer as they allowed Messi, Neymar and Marco Verratti - three pillars - to leave.

Messi moved to LA Galaxy on a free transfer and Randal Kolo Muani was brought in from Frankfurt for €85 million as part of the baton change.

Muani has been a disaster so far. He has just six league goals and one in the Champions League, falling well down the pecking order.

Angel Di Maria to Tim Weah (Juventus)

Angel Di Maria was far from a success during his one year at Juventus, mainly due to the mismanagement of manager Max Allegri.

But there was never any doubt about his ability, and he still chipped in with some moments and games where he displayed that magic.

Di Maria was released last summer and replaced by Tim Weah.

Unfortunately the United States international has none of the quality of either his father George or of Di Maria.

He has proved to be well off the standard required at Juventus.

Luciano Spalletti to Rudi Garcia (Napoli)

Luciano Spalletti led Napoli to a historic Scudetto last season, the club’s first since Diego Maradona 33 years earlier.

Napoli romped to the Scudetto, winning Serie A by 16 points and playing some of the best football in Europe.

Spalletti chose to leave at the of the season and he was replaced disastrously.

Rudi Garcia succeeded Spalletti and was so bad he was sacked in November. Walter Mazzarri returned to steady the ship but sunk it even further and was sacked himself in February. Francesco Calzona was appointed as caretaker for the rest of the campaign.

At the time of writing, Napoli are ninth, having had the worst defence of a Scudetto in Serie A history.

Read more about: La Liga, Serie A, Premier League