Wonder Pigeon
'Shelbourne FC Supporter'
Looking at the 'Expensive Transfers that Worked' thread got me thinking about big money signings that weren't made by the traditional biggest clubs or the current moneybags. When you look at the list of the biggest transfers of all time, obviously it's primarily the usual suspects - United and City, Real and Barcelona, Juventus, PSG etc.
There are famous flops that went to clubs outside the top bracket - Denilson at Betis, or Mendieta and to a lesser extent Crespo (who did well but won nothing) at Lazio. When you take in the biggest moves to clubs in China, it can be harder to quantify their success to the level and the lesser profile over here, but a lot of them seem to have done just 'fine' - either playing well but not racking up trophies, moving when they're past their best, or not sticking around -would Paulinho be the most successful?
Are there good examples of clubs outside the typical European elites putting their necks out there to make a massive money signing and having it pay off in terms of bringing in trophies, moving them up a level or the player staying on for a long time? Batistuta going to Roma for 35m-ish in 2000 had the RVP effect, getting them over the line for a Serie A. Any others?
There are famous flops that went to clubs outside the top bracket - Denilson at Betis, or Mendieta and to a lesser extent Crespo (who did well but won nothing) at Lazio. When you take in the biggest moves to clubs in China, it can be harder to quantify their success to the level and the lesser profile over here, but a lot of them seem to have done just 'fine' - either playing well but not racking up trophies, moving when they're past their best, or not sticking around -would Paulinho be the most successful?
Are there good examples of clubs outside the typical European elites putting their necks out there to make a massive money signing and having it pay off in terms of bringing in trophies, moving them up a level or the player staying on for a long time? Batistuta going to Roma for 35m-ish in 2000 had the RVP effect, getting them over the line for a Serie A. Any others?