Five teams that sold their star player and got better | OneFootball

Football history has proven that there’s not always a reason to be fearful when a star player heads for the exit door.

Newcastle United have been rocked by the news that Alexander Isak wants out at St James’ Park, with interest from Liverpool having turned the forward’s head. The Magpies appear to be facing an uphill battle to hold onto their leading scorer, as Liverpool prepare to launch a British transfer record move.

Eddie Howe’s side can take heart from these five clubs, however, who all invested big windfalls to improve after star players left.

Five teams that sold their star player and got better.

Everton – 2004

Wayne Rooney was the hottest property in world football following his exciting emergence at Everton.

After netting a stunning last-minute winner against Arsenal as a 16-year-old, Rooney’s rapid rise continued for club and country.

A stunning individual tournament at Euro 2004 persuaded Manchester United to make their move, agreeing a deal that made Rooney the most expensive teenager of all time at £25.6 million.

Rooney went from strength to strength after his move to Manchester, though Everton also improved upon his exit.

David Moyes reinvested the funds from his sale into signings including Tim Cahill, Marcus Bent, James Beattie and Mikel Arteta, who all contributed significantly as the Toffees went from 17th in 2003/04 to a fourth-placed finish and Champions League qualification in 2004/05.

Inter Milan – 2009

Inter Milan were involved in a stunning transfer deal in 2009, as the club’s leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic headed for Barcelona. Ibrahimovic had scored 66 goals over the three previous seasons for Inter, twice winning the Serie A Footballer of the Year award.

Inter Milan recouped around £40m plus Samuel Eto’o for the Swedish striker, and certainly got the better end of the deal. That sale helped fund the signings of Wesley Sneijder, Lucio, Diego Milito and Thiago Motta, forming the nucleus of Jose Mourinho’s side.

In the club’s first season without Ibrahimovic, Inter won a historic Serie A, Coppa Italia and Champions League treble, eliminating their former forward in the semi-finals of the latter competition. It remains the only treble in Italian football history.

Liverpool – 2018

It’s become somewhat of a running joke on social media that Liverpool’s transfer business is still funded by the sale of Philippe Coutinho…

In December 2017, the Brazilian began to agitate for a transfer as Barcelona came calling. A record-breaking deal was agreed, taking Coutinho to Catalonia for a fee that could rise to £142m including add-ons.

Coutinho had been the orchestrator of Jurgen Klopp’s entertaining but occasionally exposed side. But, rather than sign a direct replacement, Liverpool instead focused on areas of weakness.

In came Virgil van Dijk for a world-record £75m fee for a defender, before Alisson arrived six months later to replace Loris Karius in goal. Together, the two solidified Liverpool, who went on to win the Champions League in 2018/19 and the Premier League a year later.

Leicester City – 2019

Harry Maguire’s impressive performances in an England shirt saw his signature sought in 2019. The centre-back helped the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, before joining Manchester United for a record-breaking £80m 12 months later.

Having finished ninth in Maguire’s final season, Leicester improved after his exit. Consecutive top-five finishes in the Premier League followed, alongside a maiden FA Cup win in 2021.

The final hero, Youri Tielemans, was signed with the funds brought in from Maguire’s sale to Old Trafford.

Paris Saint-Germain – 2024

Paris Saint-Germain proved there’s life after losing your leading name last summer.

The Kylian Mbappe saga had a predictable conclusion as the forward departed for Real Madrid on a free transfer. Mbappe left Paris as PSG’s record scorer, having netted 256 goals in 308 games, winning five Ligue 1 Player of the Year awards.

However, Luis Enrique’s desire for intense work from the front saw PSG improve in his absence. Ousmane Dembele was reinvented as a central forward, while Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added further firepower.

The results were spectacular, as PSG won a continental treble, including a first-ever Champions League title. Their 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the final set a new competition record.

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