Jack Wilshere and five other supposedly overrated footballers

David Cooper - Writer 22:24 23/02/2018
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  • Jack Wilshere has been branded overrated by Roy Keane.

    Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane labelled Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere as “probably the most overrated player on the planet” following the Gunners’ round-of-32 Europa League second leg defeat to Ostersunds on Thursday night.

    Here, we look at five other stars who could be classed in the same terms.

    HULK

    A man who comfortably has a case for one of the best names in football but has flattered to deceive and failed to live up to that big name talent.

    Hulk has been plying his trade in the Chinese Super League with Shanghai SIPG since 2016 but his blistering spell with Porto aside, has never really proven his worth on the biggest stages. Often overrated in terms of value, now 31, it is unlikely we will see him in a Brazil shirt again.

    EZEQUIEL LAVEZZI

    The Argentine has more millions in the bank than most, particularly after he pursued the riches of the Chinese Super League with Hebei China Fortune, but he was a flop in the 2014 World Cup for his country and has never truly been tested in the English or Spanish top flight. Decent stints with both Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain but for a man billed as a world-beater and one of the planet’s best, he’s not lived up to the billing.

    STEPHAN EL SHAARAWY

    Stephan El Shaarawy

    The Genoa prodigy was the talk of the town when he moved to AC Milan for a large €20 million fee back in 2011, aged just 19. But, despite enjoying a stellar campaign with Rossoneri during the 2012-13 season, the winger’s form deteriorated and injury struck. A loan spell at Monaco was disappointing while he did enough to convince Roma to sign him permanently in the summer of 2016 following a profitable loan spell. However, you just have to feel everyone expected more from the man billed as one of the leading lights of Italian football.

    KARIM BENZEMA

    Benzema

    Gary Lineker controversially claimed the Real Madrid forward was not as good as people thought he was last October – and it seemed harsh – especially given the fact the 30-year-old has scored 187 goals in 393 appearances for Los Blancos.

    But, still, many feel the Frenchman has not made the most of his talent and is not a world-beater. It’s an opinion seemingly backed up by many.

    SAMI KHEDIRA

    Sami Khedira

    The German is still only 30 and on paper has had a stellar career but the midfielder’s injury-prone nature hasn’t helped his plight. Indeed, he picked up an injury ahead of the 2014 World Cup final and hasn’t really become the box-to-box central midfield talent many people thought he would. His disappointing final two seasons at Real Madrid proved just as much.

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