Top 10 Serie A flop signings

The transfer market always brings excitement, but it doesn’t guarantee success.

Unlike England and Spain where top clubs do not hesitate to spend loads of cash on star players, the Italians are a bit more cautious.

Although, they are also prepared to delve deep into their pockets usually when pressurized into making a big name signing by their own fans. These big money moves often bear fruit and help Serie A sides improve their positions but, as this list will show, they sometimes have just the opposite effect and can prove to be a real waste of money.

In our newest list named Top 10 Serie A flop signings, we look back at the summer transfer window and take note some of the worst business to have been done.

10. Fernando Tores (Chelsea to Milan)

The Spaniard arrived at Milan on a two-year loan on 31 August 2014, and his time at Chelsea bears comparison to the Milanese experiences of Ronaldinho and (second time around) Kaka: trophies may have been won, but almost in spite of the big name rather than because of him.

Having turned 30 in the spring, he desperately needed a fresh start and a two-year loan to Milan looked a good opportunity. He scored on his full debut against Empoli, but did not contribute directly to a goal thereafter. He endend up scoring just that one goal in 10 games, before getting signed on a permanent deal by the Rossoneri, only for him to return to Atletico Madrid on loan again right away.

9. Xherdan Shaqiri (Bayern to Inter)

Thw Swiss already had problems settling into the Bundesliga and endured further issues in Italy, perhaps even more so than in Germany. In 2014/15, he was on loan at Inter and it did not go to plan whatsoever.

Six months later, he made the move to Stoke City, where he remained for three years.

8. Nicolas Anelka (Shanghai to Juventus)

It was one of his final stops on his footballing journey after travelling so much of the world throughout his career.

Anelka joined the Bianconeri at the age of 34, arriving from the Chinese Super League in the winter of 2014, but he played just twice and the following season he joined West Bromwich Albion as a free agent.

7. Ricardo Quaresma (Porto to Inter)

Ricardo Quaresma came through the ranks at Sporting CP around the same time as Cristiano Ronaldo, but their careers would take two very different paths. Quaresma joined Barcelona in 2003 but returned to Portugal with Porto just one year later. He rediscovered his form in his home country, winning a move to Italy in 2008.

But Quaresma’s ability and attitude both came under the microscope, with Inter boss Jose Mourinho questioning his team ethic. He was ‘awarded’ the Bidone d’oro (Golden Bin) award for worst Serie A player at the end of his debut season, and joined Besiktas after two unhappy years.

6. Geoffrey Kondogbia (Monaco to Inter)

Highly rated during his time at Monaco, and now on the radar of many big teams because of his form for Valencia, it seems that Geoffrey Kondogbia’s two-year stint at Inter was just a blip. He never settled at the San Siro, and his attitude came under question, with Kondogbia himself later admitting he ‘didn’t behave like a great player.’

It wasn’t completely Kondogbia’s fault though. Inter went through four managers in his two seasons, and Kondogbia had a particularly fractious relationship with Frank de Boer. He admitted during his loan at Valencia that he would happily pay his own buyout clause, but Los Che were happy to oblige, making his move permanent for €25 million.

5. Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal to Juventus)

Most people were surprised when Juventus signed Nicklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal in 2012, but the man himself probably thought it was about time that someone acknowledged his greatness. Even he must have been daunted by the task of replacing Alessandro Del Piero though.

Predictably, the overconfident Dane never scored for Juventus, although it wasn’t entirely his fault. He suffered a thigh injury in December and had to undergo surgery, meaning that he didn’t play again until the final match of the season…when he got injured again. The Italians opted not to extend his loan.

4. Lukas Podolski (Arsenal to Inter)

After very good seasons at Bayern Munich and Cologne, the German ended up at Inter in the winter of 2014/15 when he was no longer a regular at Arsenal.

In Serie A, he didn’t manage to shine either and, despite playing 17 league games, he only managed a single goal.

That summer, he opted for another change of scenery and left on loan to join Galatasaray.

3. Diego (Werder to Juventus)

The 2009/10 season was one to forget for Juventus. They finished seventh in Serie A, failed to make it out of the Champions League group stages, and were knocked out of the Europa League by Fulham. Fans needed a scapegoat, and they laid the blame at the door of Diego, a €24.5m signing from Werder Bremen.

Diego had dazzled in Germany with 54 goals in three seasons for Bremen, but the lack of support he received from midfielders Christian Poulsen and Felipe Melo (who also appear on this list) at Juventus meant that opposition defences could easily deal with him. After one season in which he only showed flashes of brilliance, he returned to Germany.

2. Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus to Milan)

Signed amidst much fanfare after being pushed out of Juventus by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain was meant to be the catalyst that propelled AC Milan forward this season. Instead, he has looked a shadow of his clinical self and the deal could be terminated in January so as he can push ahead with a move to England and be reunited with his former coach at Napoli, Maurizio Sarri.

Whether the Argentine’s poor form was down to himself or the lack of quality around him is up for debate, but Milan sure are irked that their hefty outlay has not been rewarded. He returned to Juventus, who loaned him again to Chelsea. However, the Premier League side opted not to sign him outright and now he is back at Juventus.

1. Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari to Inter)

Perpetually in the midst of controversy, Radja Nainggolan hasn’t failed to live up to his chaotic reputation since his move to Inter.

Late nights, crashed cars, arguments with supporters, the list goes on. Yet, his career has always been like this, but so long as he performed on the pitch, it mattered little. However, since his arrival from Rome in the summer all has not gone to plan. His spell has been blighted by injury and, when fit, not the most convincing of performances.

Recently it was announced that he has returned at Cagliari on a season long loan.

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