One criticism of the English game is the reluctance of its home-grown players to try their hand in Europe’s top leagues.
Whether the Premier League is the best in the world or not, there can be no denying the prestige of the Italian top flight.
Serie A has rekindled some of its magic, getting closer to its glorious best at the moment, with two of its great Milan stalwarts on their way to recovering from some dark times, and has provided sanctuary for some under-pressure England stars.
In 2016, goalkeeper Joe Hart made the journey to Turin to join Torino on loan from Manchester City, and on September 11, 2016 became the first English goalkeeper to play in Serie A.
But what of other Englishmen who dared to play in Italy during their playing careers? Let’s take a look at the last 11 that made the move to Serie A.
Joe Hart
Year: 2016
From: Manchester City
To: Torino
Fee: Loan
Trying to find his way in football once again after being pushed out of Manchester City by Pep Guardiola, Hart took the decision to test himself in Serie A.
However, things did not go according to plan for the English goalkeeper, as he would concede 62 goals in 36 league games, keeping just five clean sheets in the process.
After another loan at West Ham United, Hart is now at Burnley on a permanent deal, currently the Clarets’ number one goalkeeper.
Ravel Morrison
Year: 2015
From: West Ham
To: Lazio
Fee: Free
Once touted as Manchester United’s next wonderkid, the academy graduate failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford. After a failed attempt to revive his career in England’s lower leagues, the often controversial figure made a move to Italian outfit Lazio in 2015.
After a promising start to life in Serie A, with two goals on his debut, the 25-year-old fell down the pecking order and has since spent two loan spells away from the club.
Nathaniel Chalobah
Year: 2015
From: Chelsea
To: Napoli
Fee: Loan
The England Under-21 regular may have been a Chelsea product but he developed his game in the Serie A two years ago.
After five loan deals to lesser English sides, the 23-year-old made the move to Napoli last season on a season-long loan. He made just five competitive league appearances but did gain some valuable experience in the Europa League.
But that was not enough for him to break the curse of the Chelsea loanee and Chalobah is now at Watford on a permanent basis.
Micah Richards
Year: 2014
From: Manchester City
To: Fiorentina
Fee: Loan
The Italian top flight proved to be a sanctuary for yet another fallen Premier League star when Richards made the switch from Manchester City in the 2014/15 season. By leaving the Etihad on-loan, the defender hoped to get his international career back on track having once been considered the ‘next big thing’.
However, 13 international caps and a place in the 2012 Olympic side was as good as it got and his season in Italy did very little to help his cause. A change in formation saw the 30-year-0ld’s influence restricted at Fiorentina and Richards has since returned to England with Aston Villa.
Perhaps he should have stayed in Italy….
Ashley Cole
Year: 2014
From: Chelsea
To: Roma
Fee: Free
Widely considered as the best left-back England has ever produced, Cole left his London home for the glamour of Rome in 2014.
However, in the twilight of his career, his two year stay was largely unsuccessful with the controversial defender failing to secure his starting place in the first-team.
His Italian experiment clearly didn’t work and Cole terminated his contract in order to secure a high-profile move to LA Galaxy in the MLS where he is now captain.
David Beckham
Years: 2009 and 2010
From: LA Galaxy
To: AC Milan
Fee: Loan
The nation’s sweetheart enjoyed a glittering career in four of Europe’s top leagues and his two loan moves to AC Milan in 2009 and 2010 seemed a match made in heaven.
In order to save his international career under Fabio Capello, the former captain looked to prove his match fitness ahead of the 2010 World Cup. So, Beckham joined Milan in the January of 2009, during a break in the MLS calendar.
Despite many holding reservations about the nature of the move, with suggestions it was purely for marketing purposes, Beckham impressed and returned to the club in similar circumstances a year later.
Jay Bothroyd
Year: 2003
From: Coventry
To: Perugia
Fee: Free
Before carving out a successful career in the English leagues, Bothroyd tried his hand in the Italian top flight for a couple of seasons.
The forward made the move to the Serie A from Coventry in 2003 and was a regular in his first season at the club. However, the striker became unsettled in Italy and was sent back to England for a loan spell in the following season.
Now 36, Bothroyd is currently playing in Japan with Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo.
Danny Dichio
Year: 1997
From: QPR
To: Sampdoria
Fee: Free
The giant striker was brought to Italy in 1997 by Sampdoria’s then boss Sven Goran-Eriksson but the Swede could do very little to make a success of the former QPR man.
Having failed to make any kind of recognisable impact, Dichio was sent on-loan at Italian minnows Lecce before returning back to England.
Franz Carr
Year: 1996
From: Aston Villa
To: Reggiana
Fee: Free
At 30 years old, Carr made the switch to Italy in the back end of his career so it was hardly surprising that the former Nottingham Forest winger failed to make himself a success in the Serie A.
He quickly retuned to the English game on loan at Bolton Wanderers before ending his career with West Bromwich Albion.
Paul Ince
Year: 1995
From: Manchester United
To: Inter Milan
Fee: £7m
After an incredibly successful career at Old Trafford, Ince made the high-profile switch to Italian giants Inter Milan.
The dominating midfielder continued his impressive form while in Italy and after two years in Milan, and after rejecting an improved contract at the club, Ince decided on a return to England with Liverpool.
Paul Gascoigne
Year: 1992
From: Tottenham
To: Lazio
Fee: £5.5m
One of England’s most naturally talented players, everyone wished Gazza the best when he moved to Lazio in 1992.
Having already made himself a household name back home and at the 1990 World Cup, Gascoigne’s debut in Serie A was broadcast on British TV but the midfielder endured an inconsistent and injury-stricken time of things during his three seasons in Rome. His highlight came through a last-minute equaliser against fierce local rivals Roma in his debut season, in which Lazio finished fifth to secure European football. The next two seasons were less successful, however.
Despite enjoying adoration among Lazio fans, Gascoigne was caught up in off-field controversies and plagued by fitness issues and negative media coverage throughout his life in Italy.
The post What happened next? The last 11 English players to move to Serie A appeared first on Squawka News.
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