Five players who made return transfers to former clubs. What Neymar can expect

Paris Saint German forward Neymar will be following in the footsteps of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Wayne Rooney, Gerard Pique, Nemanja Matic and Mario Gotze. 

When a player decides to leave a team in search for a new adventure the outcome does not always guarantee success.

This can be as a result of number of differences such as tactics or some of these players failed to realize how good they had it before they decided to leave. 

One of the advantages of heading back to a past home is always an opportunity to recapture previous glories. Fans will always be sceptical of a player who left with such ease then return after things didn’t go according to plan. If such player goes on to replicate similar form to that in their first spell with the club all is always going to be forgiven and forgotten.

A move away from the club can see a player getting a hero status to becoming nothing more than a distant memory.

In light of Neymar being linked with a return to Camp nou, Kobbysports we look at five players who have gone back to their former clubs…

Francesc Fabregas

Fabregas, a La Masia graduate, who joined Barcelona at the age of ten coming through the ranks with a good friend and future Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.

At the age of 16, Fabregas moved away from the Catalan in 2003 when he headed to the Gunners.

One year after signing for Arsenal, Fabregas would cement his place as a first team regular in the heart of the Arsenal midfield and being named captain at the age of 21.

Though happy in north London, former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would have to answer questions during each transfer window on the Spanish star’s future. Fabregas has never hide his love for Barça and a move was inevitable.

Eventually in 2011, Fabregas head home as he signed a five year contract with Barcelona.

With Barcelona's now renowned tiki-taka style, Fabregas find the transition difficult to adjust to, he was too accustomed to Premier League football and could not replicate such performances in Spain.

Fabregas spent three years with the La Liga giants, scoring 42 goals in 151 games winning six honours before heading back to West London in England joining Chelsea in 2014.

Gerard Pique

Mainly playing in midfield after Coming through at Barcelona, Pique decided to leave Camp nou after first team playing time assurances become a concerned. 

In 2004, he signed his first professional contract with Premier League club Manchester United.

Pique was a part of the Red Devils squad that clinched the Premier league title and Champions League in the 2007/2008 and a successful loan spell with Spanish outfit Real Zaragoza finishing sixth in La Liga. 

After four years at Old Trafford, the defender head back to Barcelona for £5m in 2008 as part of newly appointed first team head coach Pep Guardiola’s revolution.

Since returning back home, Pique has gone on to assert himself as one of the best centre backs in the world of football. 

He has more than 100 caps for Spain. In 11 seasons at the Nou Camp, Pique has won no more than 28 major honours. 

Nemanja Matic

Chelsea signed Matic from Slovakian second division side Kosice for £1.5m in 2009. Despite a productive loan spell in Holland with Vitesse Arnhem, Chelsea deemed Matic surplus to requirements.

In 2011, the club included the Serbian midfielder as part of the deal to bring Brazilian centre back David Luiz from Benfica.

Matic started his career as an attacking midfielder, it was at Benfica that then manager Jorge Jesus deployed him in a deeper midfield role and he excelled. After two years with Benfica, the Serbian international was seen as a key integral in the midfield and was awarded a new contract lasting until 2018, with a release clause of £45m.

Matic played against his former side Chelsea in the 2013 Europa League final. Despite losing the match, Matic was named as the Primeira Liga Player of the Year.

In January 2014, Chelsea came calling for a second time signing Matic for £21m. He was named Man of the Match in his first Premier League start for the Blues against Manchester City. 

In 2017, Matic left for fellow Premier League rivals Manchester United, to reunite with his former manager Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.

The Serb’s second spell with Chelsea was a success winning two Premier League titles and also lifting the FA Cup.

Mario Gotze

At the age of eight, the German World Cup winner joined Borussia Dortmund making his debut in 2009. Gotze played a significant role in Dortmund’s 2010/11 season in which they won the Bundesliga title for the first time since 2002.

Upon the imminent arrival of Pep Guardiola to rivals Bayern Munich, Gotze was announced as the former Barcelona manager’s first signing - much to the dismay of the Borussia Dortmund fans. The fee was £31.5m at the time making him the most expensive German player of all time.

Gotze played in a number of positions under Guardiola. Whilst at Dortmund, Jurgen Klopp deployed him behind the strikers, being the link player between the midfield and strikers. 

In his first season, despite registering 15 goals in all competitions and playing a significant role for Bayern to lift the Bundesliga title, Gotze found himself in and out of the squad due to his performances came under huge criticism.

Three seasons gone with Bayern, Gotze had not developed as a player. After transfer showdown talks with Bayern Munich’s hierarchy he asked to be moved on. The club did not stand in his way agreeing a deal for his return to Borussia Dortmund in 2016 for a reported £21m. On his return, as usual, the World Cup winner mentioned his regret at leaving Dortmund for Bayern Munich.

Since his return to Dortmund, Gotze has endured a mixed time. He missed most of his first season, thanks to a metabolic illness.

However, last season, Gotze helped Dortmund finish within two points of champions and previous club Bayern - Dortmund’s highest finish in three seasons.

Wayne Rooney

In 2002, Wayne Rooney became Everton 's youngest ever goal scorer after his brace against Wrexham aged only 16. Soon after that, he was fast tracked into the Everton first team - becoming fans favourite and a regular in the Everton starting XI.

Rooney joined Manchester United in 2004 for £25.6m. The striker was to leave on bad terms as he snubbed the chance to sign a new deal, to the ire of David Moyes.

But in 3017, the former England captain returned to Goodison Park penning a two year contract, which put an end to his 13-year association with United. At Old Trafford, Rooney won 16 major honours and became the club's record goal scorer.

The most memorable moment of his second spell was scoring his first hat-trick for Everton in a 4-0 win over West Ham. 

Everton manager Ronald Koeman was sacked following a poor start to 2016/2017 and was replaced by Sam Allardyce. Rooney featured more prominently in midfield under his new coach. He ended the season with 11 goals in all competitions with Everton finishing eighth in the Premier League.

Rooney's return to Everton was not what he envisaged for both parties. His contract was cut short which allowed him to head to America to play in the MLS with DC United.