Nani, Bentley, Babel…Where did it all go wrong?
The Premier League is the most competitive league in the world and whilst some players flourish in England, others are not so lucky. There are currently several high profile players who find themselves in a predicament for some of the top clubs in the league, having warmed the bench for far too long. Nani, David Bentley and Ryan Babel are three examples of players who have reached a crossroads in their careers. So what should they do?
Big things were expected of the Portuguese youngster when he joined Manchester United for £17 million in the summer of 2007 along with the Brazilian Anderson. However whilst Anderson has excelled in the United side, Nani has struggled to hold down a regular place, having never really been more than a fringe player for Alex Ferguson. It was believed that the winger would finally get his big chance this season after the departure of the Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid; however despite a goal against rivals Chelsea in the season’s curtain raiser the Community Shield, Nani has still found himself behind Antonio Valencia in the pecking order. The winger’s future has been cast further into doubt after a recent argument with Ferguson and his career may well benefit from a move away from Old Trafford. Nani would likely prosper in a foreign league such as Spain, where his flair will shine as games are more open and players have more time on the ball. He undoubtedly has skill yet has clearly not taken the chances he has been given in England and he should twist rather than stick.
David Bentley has suffered from a mixture of bad luck and a bad attitude since his move to Tottenham. The winger arrived at White Hart Lane for £15 million in a high profile transfer in July 2008 yet has not enjoyed the most successful of spells with the Lilywhites. His arrival triggered the form of Aaron Lennon who hasn’t looked back since and has been performing exceptionally for Harry Redknapp’s side on the right of the midfield, keeping Bentley out of both the Spurs and England teams. The ex-Blackburn man has however appeared to accept his fate as a bench warmer at White Hart Lane, which comes as a shock considering the ambition he showed when attempting to leave Ewood Park. At 25 years old, Bentley has some time on his side yet I believe he needs to find a move away from North London as soon as possible in order to resurrect his career. The hefty price tag is likely to deter many interested parties yet I still believe him to have a lot of potential and his Premier League career is by no means over.
Like Nani and Bentley, Ryan Babel is at a career crossroads. He is a popular figure with many Liverpool fans yet has been both wrongly and under-utilised by Rafa Benitez. Babel is often played on the wing by the Spaniard yet is also able to play as a striker, a role that he arguably prefers. Babel shows glimpses of his potential with the occasional wonder strike, the goal against Lyon recently was a thunderous strike that almost proved to be key for the Merseysiders Champions League campaign. Babel’s predicament does not have an obvious solution. He has recently threatened to leave Benitez’s side at a time where the club could do without extra things to worry about but it is understandable for the Dutchman to be thinking about his own career. Babel is visibly frustrated at Anfield and the next month is likely to decide his future. At 22 he clearly has a decision to make for the sake of his career and in my opinion he should probably leave Liverpool, but to which destination I am not sure. I don’t believe his future to lie in the Premier League, at least not now and think he will benefit from a move to another of Europe’s top leagues. Babel may need to step down to a club of less stature and quality of Liverpool for the time being in order to establish himself throughout Europe, however I still believe he has a bright future ahead of him.
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The common denominator…..no heart.
lol they are missing a whole lot more than heart robbo Nani lacks a footblling brain and thus despite his clear ability, he is frustrating as hell to watch
I agree that heart is one thing that they all miss – but Chudi is right it is certainly not the only thing. The sooner Nani leaves the PL the better in my opinion, for both Nani and the league