The £56m question - will Kaka be a king like Keegan or rubbish like Rush after his mega move?

09 June 2009 20:05
Real deal: Kaka Kaka's £56million move to Real Madrid makes the Brazilian the most expensive current footballer. How must that feel when you run out on to the pitch? For some, it provides the opportunity to stick your chest out and show the world your prodigious talent, while others crumble under the considerable pressure. Here is Sportsmail's guide to the big-money successes and those for whom all that cash was just too much. Law had been a record signing for Torino in 1961 but did not settle in Italy and was signed by Matt Busby in 1962. 'The King' went on to score 237 goals in 404 appearances for United in 13 years at Old Trafford, winning the European Footballer of the Year award in 1964 after bagging 30 goals in 41 games. Law helped United to the league title in 1965 and 1967 but a knee injury cost him his place in the European Cup final of 1968. Kevin KeeganLiverpool to Hamburg - £500,000 (July 1977) Keegan was heralded as Hamburg's saviour when he arrived in Germany in 1977, but the former Liverpool player took time to settle. Hamburg came 10th in the Bundesliga in his first season, but there was personal triumph for Keegan, who was named European Footballer of the Year. The German championship and a second Ballon d'Or came in 1979 and Hamburg reached the European Cup final in Keegan's last season at the club, where they were beaten 1-0 by Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest. Zinedine Zidane Juventus to Real Madrid - £45.62m (July 2001) Zizou became the world's most expensive signing when he joined Real Madrid in 2001. Already a World Cup and European Championships winner with France, the attacking midfielder scored the winning goal - a perfect left-footed volley - in the Champions League final against Leverkusen as Madrid clinched the title in Zidane's first season at the Bernebeu. The La Liga title and a third FIFA World Footballer of the Year award followed in Zidane's second season for a player who is regarded as one of the greatest of all time. Chris WaddleTottenham to Marseille - £4.25m (July 1989) Waddle left Spurs in 1989 to join a host of stars at Marseille, where he won three consecutive Lique 1 titles in his three years at the club. The French side also reached the final of the European Cup in 1991, but were beaten 5-3 on penalties by Red Star Belgrade after a 0-0 draw. Not surprisingly, Waddle didn't step up to take one after missing a penalty for England in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against Germany. Roy KeaneNottingham Forest to Manchester United - £3.75m (July 1993) The Irishman followed Brian Clough out of the Forest door in 1993 after the club's relegation from the Premier League. Another British record signing, Keane was by no means guaranteed a place in a United midfield that boasted Bryan Robson and Paul Ince, but he scored twice on his home debut and won the Double in his first season. Six more Premier League titles, a further three FA Cups and the 1999 Champions League trophy followed, although Keane missed the final owing to suspension. He was also voted the PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in 2000. Andriy Shevchenko AC Milan to Chelsea - £30m (May 2006) It didn't really work out in west London for the Ukrainian, who arrived from AC Milan with an impeccable pedigree after scoring 127 goals in 208 games. Shevchenko managed just nine goals in 47 Premier League appearances for Chelsea and struggled to hold down a first-team place. Injuries played their part, but the striker returned to Milan on loan after just two years in England. Juan Sebastian Veron Lazio to Manchester United - £28.1m (July 2001) The Argentina international's first season at Old Trafford was so poor it ended in United boss Sir Alex Ferguson ranting at the press to try and defend Veron.. 'You tell me what is wrong with Veron. I think he has played well,' he said, before calling the media a 'joke'. Quite why Chelsea bought him in 2003 is anyone's guess. Liverpool great Ian Rush didn't prove to be a hit at Juventus Ian Rush Liverpool to Juventus - £3.2m (June 1987) Juventus bought him to score goals, but Rush managed just seven in 29 games for the Italian side before scarpering back to England. The striker struggled to adapt to life on the continent, although he denies saying Italy felt 'like a foreign country'. David Mills Middlesbrough to West Brom - £516,000 (January 1979) A Middlesbrough legend, Mills became the world's first £500,000 footballer when he joined Ron Atkinson's West Brom in 1979. But injuries and tactical changes didn't help Mills' cause, his form suffered and he managed just six goals in 59 games. Gaizka Mendieta Valencia to Lazio - £29m (July 2001) Expectations were high when the Spain midfielder moved to Italy in 2001, but he failed to deliver in Serie A and was shunted off to Barcelona on loan after just one season. A loan spell at Middlesbrough followed and the Riverside club signed him on a permanent basis in 2004.

Source: Daily_Mail