QPR never saw what Birmingham City and Lazio did - He was predicted to be "better than Lionel Messi" | OneFootball

Arriving on loan from West Ham in 2015, Queens Park Rangers never saw what Birmingham City did with the once electric talent, Mauro Zarate.

In a deal that promised much but delivered little, Mauro Zarate's short-lived loan spell at Queens Park Rangers in the 2014/15 season is now remembered as nothing more than a Premier League footnote.

Once tipped to outshine Lionel Messi by Lazio's president Claudio Lotito, the Argentine forward arrived at Loftus Road with a reputation that far outweighed the impact he would go on to make.

, Zarate featured just four times in the Premier League as the R's struggled through a relegation battle they would ultimately lose.

A tale of what could have been for Zarate

Mauro Zarate made a reasonably decent impact at St Andrew's during his short time on loan at Birmingham City in 2008.

Joining the club that January from Qatari outfit Al-Sadd, he took a bit of time to find his shooting boots but, in fairness to the Argentinian, the first full 90 he played was the game when he opened his account for the Blues, equalising in what looked to be a crucial match in the relegation battle against Reading.

Unfortunately, an Andre Bikey brace ensured his side left Berkshire empty-handed, though he did enjoy individual success, scoring four goals in four matches during a promising period between March and April.

He also managed to record one assist during his 14 displays under Alex McLeish, though their relegation back to the Championship perhaps meant it would have been unrealistic to strike a permanent deal.

After that, a move to Lazio saw him become one of Serie A's most exciting young forwards. In the 2010/11 campaign, he notched nine goals and eight assists across 35 appearances. His performances led Lotito to boldly proclaim he would become "better than Messi" - a quote that now feels surreal in hindsight.

Unfortunately, Zarate never quite reached those predicted heights. His career led him to stints in Argentina, Brazil, the UAE and various English clubs. By the time he arrived at QPR, the spark that once made him a fan favourite in Rome and Birmingham had faded significantly.

A shadow of his former self in West London

At Loftus Road, Zarate failed to get a consistent run of games, and when he did feature, he often looked off the pace. His four appearances yielded no goals, no assists, and no real moments of magic.

It was a far cry from the electric talent who had once wowed crowds. And his lack of impact at QPR mirrored the trajectory of a career that had started with so much potential but increasingly felt like a missed opportunity.

Despite his downturn in form during his time in England, Zarate remained active in football well into his mid-30s. Following his departure from Watford in 2018, the Argentine had spells with Al-Nassr, America Mineiro, Juventude, and back in his home country with Boca Juniors before he retired at Danubio FC in 2023.

Zarate may have never become “better than Messi,” but for a fleeting moment at Birmingham City and Lazio, he gave fans a glimpse of the brilliance he was capable of. Sadly for QPR, they never got to see that side of him.