ADRIAN MUTU CLAIMS HE COULD HAVE WON A BALLON D’OR
Just a few fans would remember Adrian Mutu as a former Premier League player, or as one who donned the famous Blue shirt of Chelsea Football Club. The former striker was prolific on his day but could not live up to expectations and ended up having an unfulfilling career.
His transfer to the English Premier League is one of the most dramatic ones you will ever come across given the circumstances under which the decision ended up playing out.
At 24 years of age, Mutu left Italian outfit Parma having already decided and agreed to a move to London to join Chelsea. In the last season he spent at Parma before making the move, Mutu was on fire for his club, scoring an impressive 22 goals in just 36 outings for the side.
He took that form to England and scored a goal on his Premier League debut to secure a win against Leicester City. His fine form continued in his following two games as he notched up four goals in his first three appearances for the Blues.
In subsequent games, however, Mutu battled for form and ended up struggling to continue his scoring streak. He could no longer get the goals for his club while playing under Claudio Ranieri. The then-manager left the club and following the arrival of Portuguese manager José Mourinho, people thought the situation was going to change.
It did change though, but for the worse. He fell out with Mourinho on different occasions and ended up not being given opportunities to play at the club.
Speaking on the matter, Mutu said he had public conflicts with Mourinho and it affected his playing time including his form. He eventually departed the club in search of more game time in 2012 but could no longer rediscover his form.
Mutu said if he had made a different decision on the last, maybe he could have won a Ballon d’Or.
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