The 2022/23 season is coming to an end, and a number of players have failed to live up to expectations, to say the least.
Between injuries, heavy investments and even disappearances, the season for these players has been a real ordeal. Here is the XI of the players who have flopped this season in Ligue 1.
Arriving in Monaco on loan from Bayern Munich in 2021, Alexander Nübel never really lived up to expectations. The one who was presented as the successor to Manuel Neuer on his return from loan, should not even continue the adventure in Bavaria.
This season, after 36 games, he has conceded 54 goals (sixth worst total in Ligue 1) for only 9 clean sheets.
Arrived from Clermont last summer for 2 million euros, Cédric Hountondji signed with Angers until 2026. While he was to be the basis of the defensive solidity of Angevin, the former Rennes player was the symbol of the sinking of the SCO.
The Beninese, however, came out of a rather successful season with Clermont. Of the 35 games he has played this season, Angers have conceded 76 goals.
Eric Bailly has arrived on loan from Manchester United, with the hope of finally being able to play a full season. But between muscle glitches, injuries and suspension (five games after his fault against Hyères in the cup), Bailly was not spared at OM.
When he was aligned, he was too often put in difficulty. The glaring example is that of the return match against Paris SG (0-3 defeat). Bailly was put in trouble by Kylian Mbappé and his match was so disastrous that since the end of February, he has played only 33 minutes.
Joe Rodon spent a season polishing the bench at Tottenham, he hoped to come to Rennes to find playing time. Bought 12 million euros by the Spurs in 2020, the Welsh international has never won in Brittany.
Unconvincing, he played only 41% of the possible playing time this season in Ligue 1, taking part in 15 games. It’s a season to forget for Joe Rodon.
Difficult to make more chaotic than the season of Youcef Belaïli. Having already deserted Brest, the Algerian winger also disappeared from AC Ajaccio this season. Arrived free in October, Belaïli still played 16 games this season with the ACA for 6 goals.
But since April, the Fennec has again disappeared without giving the slightest sign of life to its leaders. He also did the trick at the end of March by sending an ultrasound to stay in Oran for treatment. Since March 20, he has only played against Brest, his former club.
Renato Sanches’ season is absolutely disappointing. Both in terms of his recurring injuries and in terms of his performance on the pitch. Recruited from Lille for 15 million euros after a convincing passage punctuated by a league title, Renato Sanches lost his footing.
He hasn’t played a single full game this season out of the 21 he has played and among his 584 minutes he has cost PSG points. Against Reims in January, his error in judgment allowed Balogun to equalize at the end of the match.
If Marco Verratti is in this XI of Ligue 1 flops, it is because his level was clearly below what he used to offer us in the past. In 27 games this season, Verratti has only too rarely displayed his best level.
He was like Paris Saint-Germain this season: enough. Without doubt his worst season since his arrival in 2012.
Malo Gusto is already at Chelsea and it shows on the pitch. Regular in the first part of the season, he chained injuries and poor performances from January.
After signing for Chelsea for 30 million euros (which he will join in June), Malo Gusto only took part in five games with OL. Returning from a two-month injury, his debut against OM was disastrous, with Marseille scoring the winning goal in the final moments. Right side of formation, it is also able to evolve higher, whether in piston or in the middle.
His first season at Stade Rennais was a great success after arriving from Dinamo Zagreb in 2021. His full season was crowned with 6 goals and 8 assists.
But this season, Lovro Majer is unrecognizable. Third in the 2022 World Cup, the Croatian seems to have metamorphosed this summer. He lost his position as indisputable holder in the eyes of Bruno Génésio. This season, he has just one goal and five assists.
Fifteen million euros and only one goal in 17 games played in Ligue 1… It’s a dear price for AS Monaco, which saw in Takumi Minamino a potential star of the Monegasque attack.
Tenured only nine times, the former Liverpool player surely expected to find much more playing time. His only goal this season is far from his total for the previous season in England in all competitions (10).
The purchase option of 35 million euros will be paid by Paris SG to keep Hugo Ekitike. The Frenchman came out of a successful season with Stade de Reims with 10 goals.
But he never knew how to seize his chance at PSG under the orders of Christophe Galtier and was often well below expectations on the ground. When lined up to replace one of the three attacking stars, Ekitike was unconvincing. He has scored just three goals this season in Ligue 1.
Top 90 is the 90min YouTube show in which we discuss football in the form of top lists! This week, Alexis Amsellem, Quentin Buckle et Davy Diamond pay tribute to the Lyon president who is bowing out, and deliver their legendary OL XI under the Jean-Michel Aulas era! Subscribe to our YouTube channel!
#flops #season #Ligue
