With reports today that Raheem Sterling is considering a move away from Liverpool as he stalls on signing a new contract at the club, here’s look at eight big-name players who were perhaps wrong not to move on to bigger things. Should Sterling follow his team-mate Steven Gerrard’s example and be a one-club man, or is it sometimes best to be a bit more ambitious and move on? Take a look at these eight players and decide for yourselves…
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A legend at Liverpool, Steven Gerrard so nearly joined Chelsea in a notable transfer saga in 2005. The Reds skipper may have just won the Champions League with his boyhood club, but perhaps rightly felt he would have more chance of success elsewhere. As it happens, Gerrard only went on to win the FA Cup and League Cup for Liverpool in the rest of his career with the club (with the possibility still of another FA Cup this season), while Chelsea have won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, four FA Cups and two League Cups since that summer.
The top scorer in Premier League history, Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer won a Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers early in his career, but had little success afterwards, many of whom feel it was a waste of talent. Manchester United were notably keen on the England goal machine, who snubbed them in favour of playing for his boyhood club instead.
Linked once upon a time with Real Madrid, it’s fair to say that Italian midfield legend Francesco Totti is one of the finest players of his generation and could have played for any team he’d wanted. Still, the incredibly loyal playmaker stuck it out with AS Roma despite often not challenging for major trophies or even competing in the Champions League.
Another one-club man at AS Roma, Daniele De Rossi has been targeted by Manchester United in the past but is another superb player who preferred to stay at the Stadio Olimpico instead of venturing to play for bigger sides where he might have won a great deal more trophies.
5) Matt Le Tissier
Never really linked with an elite club, Southampton star Matt Le Tissier remains a hugely underrated talent who could’ve surely shone for the Premier League’s big boys if given a chance. Still, the superbly skillful attacking midfielder was also regularly snubbed by England and continued as the big fish in a small pond with the Saints.
Another superb player who massively underachieved in his career, Paul Gascoigne could’ve joined Manchester United earlier in his career, but instead opted to play for Tottenham. Things never took off as expected for the England star, who surely would’ve swept aside the major honours if he’d been part of the setup at Old Trafford.
Another unique talent, Paolo Di Canio had a good Premier League career with teams like Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham United, but Sir Alex Ferguson has been quoted as saying he thinks the Italian could have been a legend if he’d made the move to Manchester United.
8) Henrik Larsson
Although he later had brief stints at Barcelona and Manchester United, there’s no doubt Henrik Larsson gave his best years to Celtic, and must be one of the best players in recent times to stick it out in a much less competitive European league. Still, with two La Liga titles, one Premier League title and a Champions League medal after his time in Scotland, perhaps he’ll say he moved at just the right time!