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| via Talkingbaws.com |
Once an international star, Wesley Sneijder now toils in relative obscurity with Galatasaray.
In 2010, Wesley Sneijder was on top of the world.
Fast forward a few years, and he is now something of a pariah. Frozen out at Inter over what was some combination of a coach’s decision and a salary disagreement, depending on who you believe, Sneijder was forced seek new pastures far removed from the glitz and glamour of Europe’s top leagues. Where he landed is at potentially the low point of his career, as a member of the Turkish league’s Galatasary. How he ended up there is a bit longer of a story.
Ever since Sneijder broke onto the scene at Ajax, his stock seemed higher than it should have been. His subsequent move to Real Madrid inflated it further, painting him as the free-kick heir to David Beckham. He won silverware there, but faced constant questions about his weight and commitment, and soon was off to Inter. There, he would be the centerpiece of a club coming off a league title handed to them after the Juventus match-fixing scandal.
This finally seemed like the perfect fit. Italian squads are one of the few left in Europe that rely on a traditional No. 10 position, and often feature narrow midfielders supported by aggressive fullbacks. And Sneijder did have a wonderful 2010 season. He worked well with teammates Samuel Eto and Diego Milito, spraying wide passes and firing 20-yard missiles on goal. In coach Jose Mourinho’s system, he was in full control.
Sneijder’s comfort came at a steep price for Inter, though. Mourinho racked up bloated contracts (including Sneijder’s) and hefty transfer fees, and with the financial fair play system looming, the coach was soon out and Inter was scrambling to avoid disaster. On the field, new boss Stramaccioni made it clear that Sneijder’s role was shrinking. He would be slowly replaced by the more workman-like Freddy Guarin, who could cover more ground and press opponents’ midfielders, all at a steep discount to what they were paying Sneijder. Eventually, dumping him altogether became the only viable option.
Sneijder was in search of a team again. And despite his pedigree and relative youth, few wanted him. His wages effectively ruled him out of a spot on any Italian club. Only Juventus and Milan could afford him, and neither are in a logistical position to bring him into the fold. Manchester United, Sneijder’s old suitor, is an embarrassment of riches at his position with Wayne Rooney, Kagawa and a number of other strikers already at the club. Among other squads, concerns about his lack of fitness seems to have scared everyone off.
So Turkey it is. It’s an ambitious move for Galatasaray, which hopes to challenge for the Turkish title and then become a regular contender in the Champions League. And they’ll at least be a must-watch for one match, when a newly eligible Sneijder leads them into a knock-out round contest against Schalke, more eager than ever before to prove his doubters wrong.
In 2010, Wesley Sneijder was on top of the world.
The Netherlands and Inter Milan playmaker had just won the historic treble for the first time in Inter’s history, and played an important role in wins over Chelsea, Barcelona and Bayern Munich. He then went and scored five goals during the World Cup, propelling the Netherlands to the final for the first time in more than two decades. Sneijder was one of the best players in the world, and looking to make a big-money move to Manchester United.
Fast forward a few years, and he is now something of a pariah. Frozen out at Inter over what was some combination of a coach’s decision and a salary disagreement, depending on who you believe, Sneijder was forced seek new pastures far removed from the glitz and glamour of Europe’s top leagues. Where he landed is at potentially the low point of his career, as a member of the Turkish league’s Galatasary. How he ended up there is a bit longer of a story.
Ever since Sneijder broke onto the scene at Ajax, his stock seemed higher than it should have been. His subsequent move to Real Madrid inflated it further, painting him as the free-kick heir to David Beckham. He won silverware there, but faced constant questions about his weight and commitment, and soon was off to Inter. There, he would be the centerpiece of a club coming off a league title handed to them after the Juventus match-fixing scandal.
This finally seemed like the perfect fit. Italian squads are one of the few left in Europe that rely on a traditional No. 10 position, and often feature narrow midfielders supported by aggressive fullbacks. And Sneijder did have a wonderful 2010 season. He worked well with teammates Samuel Eto and Diego Milito, spraying wide passes and firing 20-yard missiles on goal. In coach Jose Mourinho’s system, he was in full control.
Sneijder’s comfort came at a steep price for Inter, though. Mourinho racked up bloated contracts (including Sneijder’s) and hefty transfer fees, and with the financial fair play system looming, the coach was soon out and Inter was scrambling to avoid disaster. On the field, new boss Stramaccioni made it clear that Sneijder’s role was shrinking. He would be slowly replaced by the more workman-like Freddy Guarin, who could cover more ground and press opponents’ midfielders, all at a steep discount to what they were paying Sneijder. Eventually, dumping him altogether became the only viable option.
Sneijder was in search of a team again. And despite his pedigree and relative youth, few wanted him. His wages effectively ruled him out of a spot on any Italian club. Only Juventus and Milan could afford him, and neither are in a logistical position to bring him into the fold. Manchester United, Sneijder’s old suitor, is an embarrassment of riches at his position with Wayne Rooney, Kagawa and a number of other strikers already at the club. Among other squads, concerns about his lack of fitness seems to have scared everyone off.
So Turkey it is. It’s an ambitious move for Galatasaray, which hopes to challenge for the Turkish title and then become a regular contender in the Champions League. And they’ll at least be a must-watch for one match, when a newly eligible Sneijder leads them into a knock-out round contest against Schalke, more eager than ever before to prove his doubters wrong.
Zach Ricchiuti is a contributor and resident soccer expert for Began in '96.
1 comments:
Galatasaray is hardly obscurity. Kind of a dickish, elitist thing to say. They're in the knockouts of the CL. Enough said.
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