Transfer flops: Florin Raducioiu

You know you've had a bad time of it when a footballer himself describes an ill fated spell at one of his many clubs as a "disaster."  Cue Florin Raducioiu who used those exact words when describing the time he spent plying his trade at West Ham United.  So just how did a Seria A and Champions League winner with AC Milan end up at Upton Park, and what made the spell one to forget.

Raducioiu began his career in his native Romania where he was a product of the Dinamo Bucharest academy, and went on to play for the club for four years after being given his chance at the tender age of just 17.  A four year jaunt in Italy followed this, where he initially joined Bari, before moving on to Verona, Brescia and then Milan.  The trophy haul though doesn't reflect a happy and glistening time at the San Siro, in fact he managed only a handful of games before being shipped off to another country.

It was Espanyol where he found himself this time, but after just two years it was off to Euro 96 in England where a certain Harry Redknapp sat up and took note as he netted his countries only goal of the finals in a 2-1 defeat by Spain.  His time spent in the Premiership didn't exactly go to plan though, with the double figure mark of appearance just being topped and only two league goals to his name.  He will perhaps be remembered for off field controversy, something vehemently denied by the player, when it was alleged he went shopping at Harvey Nichols leaving his side one striker short.  Falling out with your manager is never a good idea, in any walk of life, and it wasn't long before Raducioiu was back off to Barcelona and old club Espanyol.

In the next seven, and final, years of his career, Raducioiu pilled up quite a list of clubs.  After leaving Spain for the second time it was on to Germany and a one year spell with VfB Stuttgart, before heading back to another old club and Brescia.  After two years home comforts lured the right winger/striker to first club Dinamo Bucharest, but it wasn't long before bags were packed once again and he jetted off to pastures new.  This time France was the destination, where Monaco aquired his services for a season, before one final hurrrah came at Creteil-Lusitanos and finally retirement in 2004 which brought an end to an 18 year career.

Radicioiu may have been far from a hit in London, and at many of his club for that matter, but on his jet-set career of Europe he did set an incredible feat.  He is only one of two players, along with Christian Poulsen, to have plied his trade in Europe's big five leagues (England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.)

Whatever happened to: Freddy Adu

Remember him? The young American prodigy who was going to take the world by storm and put the United States on the footballing map.

A striker who broke an unbelievable amount of records and had the words top clubs, Manchester United, Chelsea and the like, clammering for his signature.

Promising huge sums of money in the process.

Well his lastest loan move to Rizespor in the Turkish Bank Asya 1 League highlights a dramatic fall from grace.

At the age of 14 he signed with DC United, and became the youngest player to appear in a Major League Soccer game.

Two weeks later Adu became the youngsest scorer in MLS history, and began to put his name on the world map.

2002 saw his United States under-17s debut, followed a year later by his first appearance for the under-20s.

This fast tracking added to the pressure on such young shoulders.

After four year at DC United, Adu shunned Europe for a move to Real Salt Lake.

However after less than a year, and two goals in 11 games, the big move finally came about.

But instead of joining one of Europe's elite, he rocked up in Portugal at Benfica.

In his first season he failed to set the side alite, matching his record for Real Salt Lake.

Following this came about a number of unsuccessful loans.

Firstly Monaco, who declined the offer of purchasing the forward at the end of the deal, Belenenses followed although he was released after a change of manager.

Greek side Aris Thessaloniki were next, were an 18 month deal ended early as Adu was phased out of the side.

Trails with several clubs followed, before his latest move to Rizespor.

This history does bring with it one question, how does such a young talent fade away so quickly?

My best guess would be all the pressure heaped on such a young boy, plus the celebrity status, became too much or he became too relaxed with it.

A youngster who was supposed to finally bring football, or soccer if you will, into the public domain amongst the other top sports in the USA.

But alas it was just not meant to be!