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By Jonathan Lewis | 5th Mar 2023
The Premier League is widely regarded as the best football league in the world, which is why it is hardly a shock that many of the planet’s greatest players have made the switch to England.
Of course, there have been a few exceptions to the rule over the years, with stars like Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski, Karim Benzema, and Neymar Jr to name a few not to have played in the EPL, however the vast majority of the world’s best over the last 30 years have done so.
Nonetheless, while many of these individuals may have been incredibly talented with a football at their feet – or with their hands if they play in goal – it has not always worked out in the way that was expected. In fact, there have been many that have caused headaches and have actually made people question whether they were quality players…
Indeed, so many football fans have their eyes on the Premier League nowadays, as the league is broadcasted to global audiences reaching hundreds of millions of fans on a weekly basis; many of which have combined their love for the sport with a variety of other pastimes, including gambling.
Sports betting without gamstop constraints has become a popular way for many to add excitement to the matches played on a regular basis, as punters are able to wager on the games that involve their favorite teams and players. Betting has become particularly interesting for many with the quality of players attracted to the EPL over the years, too.
However, many do find that they can get frustrated when wagering on certain players, as they expect individuals to be a lot better than they are. Indeed, quality footballers should be able to produce results on the pitch regardless of which league or country they are playing in. But, the expectations, competitiveness, and pressure of playing in the world’s top league clearly weigh down on the shoulders of some…
Strikers such as Andriy Shevchenko, Gonzalo Higuain, and Radamel Falcao are just three examples of world-class individuals who seemingly never had trouble finding the back of the net when playing on the continent. Each of them were incredibly prolific during their careers, however once they made the move to the Premier League, their boots appeared to go missing.
By pure coincidence – or perhaps the fact that the club is cursed in the striker department – each of them played for Chelsea at different points. However, none of them could do what Didier Drogba or Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink could do in a Blue shirt; score with consistency as both are in the 100 club. Admittedly, it could be argued that the move came far too late in their careers, but they still flopped.
Manchester United have had their fair share of flops who were great stars before being brought to the EPL. Angel Di Maria was poor during his time at Old Trafford but recently won the 2022 FIFA World Cup; Bastien Schweinsteiger is a legend for Bayern Munich and Germany, but not much more than a forgettable face for the Red Devils. Juan Sebastien Veron and Diego Forlan are perhaps other huge stars that failed to cut it for the world-famous club.
Clearly, there are many talents that manage to play exceptionally well in the Premier League once they have made the move – with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland appearing to do just fine – but there are some that simply crumble in the spotlight of this league.