For a club, recruiting new players is assumed to improve or strengthen the composition of its squad to be ready to compete with other clubs. However, not a few transfers of players ended in failure because they appeared to flop in their new team.

Instead of being able to contribute, they actually find it difficult to appear regularly. This gives at least two options, leave or become a bench warmer.

Like these five players who chose to return to their old club because they failed to shine. Who are they?

1. Tanguy Ndombele

Tanguy Ndombele breaks Tottenham Hotspur’s transfer record. He was bought for 60 million euros from Olympique Lyon in the summer of 2019.

However, his career with The Lilywhites did not last long. Ndombele’s performance was considered not in accordance with the high price that the Spurs were willing to spend. The situation is getting more difficult for him, especially the presence of Antonio Conte as the new tactician of The Lilywhites.

As a result, Ndombele was released back to his old club, Olympique Lyon, on loan in the winter of 2022. Not in vain, he has returned regularly so far with a record 23 appearances in various competitions.

2. Luka Jovic

Real Madrid is improving in order to strengthen the variety of its attacking line by attracting a number of new names in the summer of 2019. Not only Eden Hazard, Los Blancos also brought Luka Jovic to the Santiago Bernabeu.

In order to recruit him from Eintracht Frankfurt, Madrid spent 63 million euros. Instead of being able to become a commensurate competitor for Karim Benzema, Jovic’s performance actually declined drastically.

He did not get the opportunity to play and his goal collection also dropped. Real Madrid finally sent Jovic back to Eintracht Frankfurt through a loan agreement during the second half of the 2020/2021 season.

3. Tiemoue Bakayoko

Tiemoue Bakayoko’s career shot sharply during three seasons with AS Monaco. That is the basis of Chelsea’s interest in signing him to Stamford Bridge. The agreement between the two clubs was reached at a fairly expensive fee, namely 40 million euros at the start of the 2017/2018 season.

Bakayoko is expected to be able to strengthen the Blues’ midfield. However, he failed to live up to these expectations and only lasted during his debut season. Having been released to AC Milan, the French player was returned to AS Monaco on loan in the summer of 2019.

4. Leonardo Bonucci

The controversial decision was made by Leonardo Bonucci by leaving Juventus at the end of the 2016/2017 season. He chose AC Milan as his new club and was redeemed for 42 million euros. The presence of Bonucci clearly benefits the Rossoneri because of his experience and winning mentality.

However, Bonucci failed to lift Milan’s inconsistent performance. Moreover, the issue of him not being at home with the city club Inter Milan continues to spread.

Bonucci only lasted one season with AC Milan and chose to return to Juventus. Until now, he was still relied on by the Old Lady.

5. Antoine Griezmann

Entering the 2019 summer transfer market, Barcelona again made a surprising maneuver by bringing Antoine Griezmann. The player’s move from Atletico Madrid did not escape the pros and cons because it cost him a fantastic 120 million euros. The presence of Griezmann is expected to be a breakthrough for La Blaugrana

‘s front lines along with other names, such as Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. However, he actually struggled to adapt his style of play to the Catalan club. After two seasons together, Griezmann was finally loaned to Atletico Madrid at the beginning of the 2021/2022 season.