ian rush didn't return the same player... I felt we had his best years and when he moved and came back despite giving a further 8 years of service never hit the same heights. He left us on a high of hitting 30 and 40 goals a season 1983–84 65 games 47 goals 1984–85 44 26 1985–86 56 33 1986–87 57 40 now those are simply spectacular figures on his return 1988–89 32 11 1989–90 48 26 1990–91 48 26 1991–92 31 9 1992–93 42 22 1993–94 49 19 1994–95 50 19 1995–96 29 7 It was still very good but never quite that height... perhaps it was because dalglish was just about done when he returned? Or perhaps i'm just very harsh
He was definitely better pre-Juve but that wasn't the point. He was the last player we signed from Italy that turned out to be any good. I can't think of any others.
Oh yes of course! The list of failed signings still completly out weighs him though. I'm not saying we should never buy from Italy btw. We should just be super thorough to make sure they can handle English football, and not spend our entire budget there.
This topic could make an interesting thread actually. Which country has been our best place to recruit new players from.
Italy has Borini Balotelli Aquilani and Dosena vs Coutinho in the last 10 yrs 21% success rate if you count the Baloteli winner vs Spurs.
I know Pjanic is quality but Roma seems to have stitched us up royally. They even gave us a freebie keeper Doni who played vs Blackburn got sent off and never to be seen again.
As Biscan said, you'd have to eliminate England as that will be the clear winner. If you're talking about all time then perhaps make that Britain considering how many Scots, Irish and Welsh we've had over the years. In modern times excluding the UK, its surely got to be Spain; Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Alonso, Torres, Mankiller, Moreno, Enrique, etc
so bascially... lets be fair to italy LFC have signed dossena, aquilani, borini... balotelli... ince way back. the history of players coming from italy.. zola, bergkamp etc etc etc the fact is LFC seem to have a brain fart rather than italian players being muck. strootman, pogba, pjanic etc etc... plenty of talent.
Anyone want to list players that have joined other English clubs from Italian clubs? Zola, Gullit, Vialli, Ravenelli, Veron, ...
I think the Spanish contingent that Rafa brought are amongst the best. How about Holland? Suarez, Litmanen, Kuyt?
Wasn't Crespo straight over from Italy when he went to Chelsea? Plenty of talent in the Serie A, just the top level is either out of reach due to funds or due to stature (CL)
