The Premier League is widely regarded as one of the toughest football leagues in the world.
Its physicality, pace, and relentless pressure can break even the most talented players.
But what happens when a player fails to shine in England? In many cases, they go on to thrive elsewhere—proving
that class is permanent, even if form in the Premier League is temporary.
Here are 17 players who struggled in England but became stars on the world stage.
1. Joselu
(Stoke City & Newcastle → Real Madrid)
Who would've predicted that the same striker who looked out of depth at Stoke and Newcastle would score
in a Champions League semi-final for Real Madrid? Joselu's career revival in Spain is nothing short of remarkable.
2. Gerard Piqué
(Manchester United → Barcelona)
At 21, Piqué was deemed surplus to requirements by Sir Alex Ferguson. After returning to Barcelona,
he became one of the greatest defenders of his generation, winning multiple Champions League titles and the World Cup.
3. Mohamed Salah
 |
(Chelsea → Roma → Liverpool)
Salah barely made an impact under José Mourinho at Chelsea, but exploded into world-class form at Roma and then Liverpool, where he became a Premier League and Champions League hero.
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4. Iago Aspas
(Liverpool → Celta Vigo)
Best remembered at Liverpool for “that corner,” Aspas became a club legend at
Celta Vigo and even scored on his Spain debut at Wembley.
5.Memphis Depay
(Manchester United → Lyon → Barcelona)
Depay’s talent was never in question, but timing and managerial changes stalled his United career.
In France, he became one of Ligue 1’s standout performers before moving to Barcelona.
6. Diego Forlán
(Manchester United → Villarreal → Atlético Madrid)
Forlán struggled in front of goal in Manchester, but went on to win the European Golden Boot and shine for Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup.
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7. Paulinho
(Tottenham → Guangzhou → Barcelona)
Labeled a flop at Spurs, Paulinho rebuilt his career in China and then surprised many with a solid season at Barcelona.
He was even praised by Ronaldinho for his work ethic and quality.
8. Borja Valero
(West Brom → Villarreal → Inter Milan)
Valero barely made a dent at West Brom but was voted La Liga’s best Spanish player in
2010 and shone in Serie A with Fiorentina and Inter.
9. Suso
(Liverpool → AC Milan → Sevilla)
Suso never earned trust at Liverpool but developed into a
creative midfielder in Italy and Spain.
10. Cristhian Stuani
(Middlesbrough → Girona)
After modest success in England, Stuani became a goal machine in La Liga and captained Girona to
their first-ever Champions League qualification in 2024.
11. Juan Cuadrado
(Chelsea → Juventus)
Cuadrado never fit Mourinho’s system, but he became a serial winner with Juventus,
lifting multiple Serie A and Coppa Italia titles.
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12. Ángel Di María
(Manchester United → PSG)
Despite flashes of brilliance, Di María’s time at United was hampered by off-pitch struggles. He went on to dominate in Ligue 1 with PSG.
13. Radamel Falcao
(Man United & Chelsea → Monaco)
Two underwhelming loan spells in England didn’t stop Falcao from leading Monaco’s golden generation to a Ligue 1 title and a Champions League semi-final.
14. Florian Thauvin
(Newcastle → Marseille)
A flop at St. James’ Park, Thauvin returned to Marseille and scored
26 goals in 2017–18. He later won a World Cup medal with France.
15. Anthony Modeste
(Blackburn Rovers → Köln)
Modeste’s spell at Blackburn was forgettable,
but he starred in the Bundesliga with Köln and even had a stint with Borussia Dortmund.
16. Nikola Kalinić
(Blackburn → Fiorentina → AC Milan)
After a quiet spell at Blackburn, Kalinić rebuilt his reputation in
Serie A and even played for Atletico Madrid and Roma.
17. Bonus Mentions
Players like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku were also written off early in their English careers before returning to dominate the league later.
Not every journey is linear.
Conclusion
Premier League struggles don’t define a career. Whether it’s down to timing, tactics, or environment,
these players proved that they had the talent all along. Their stories are a testament to resilience—and a reminder that football is a global game.
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