With the 2023/24 campaign approaching the final stretch, there are several top stars who have played little to no part this season. Here's a look at five forgotten stars, including Paul Pogba and Thiago Alcantara!
Paul Pogba
The France international has been out of action since August 2023, when he was found to have tested positive for doping. Pogba denied purposely ingesting an illegal substance but a counter-analysis of his test also returned positive, leading to an extended period on the sidelines and him facing a maximum four-year ban ahead of his trial at the National Anti-Doping Tribunal. His lawyers obtained a postponement of the trial, which was initially set to start on 18 January 2024, and a new trial date is expected to be scheduled soon. He has made a shockingly low two appearances in all competitions this season, leaving fans with no recent recollection of what he can do on the pitch.
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Thiago Alcantara
The Liverpool midfielder has endured an abysmal season, making just one appearance in 2023/24, in a five-minute cameo against Arsenal earlier this month. His woes are all down to his increasingly worrying injury record. The playmaker initially spent 10 months out due to a hip problem, but upon his return this month, he picked up a muscle injury that will keep him out for a further unknown period. The 32-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the campaign and it appears unlikely the Reds will take the plunge and hand him a contract extension. In nearly four seasons at Anfield, Thiago has made only 98 appearances in total, per Transfermarkt.
David de Gea
The 2022/23 Premier League Golden Glove winner remains a free agent since ending his 12-year association with Manchester United. The goalkeeper is a forgotten figure between the sticks, although he was linked with a return to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window. However, nothing concrete materialised, with Forest eventually signing Matz Sels from Strasbourg on deadline day. However, various reports suggest that De Gea is still being pursued by Saudi Pro League teams, with Al Shabab said to have held talks with the player's camp.
Trevoh Chalobah
The defender has played zero matches for Chelsea this season, missing a total of 32 games due to a thigh injury and fitness issues. Furthermore, the Blues reportedly declared earlier in the campaign that the Sierra Leone-born star is up for sale. Bayern Munich were said to be pushing to sign him at the start of the season but were reportedly put off by Chelsea's £25 million valuation of the centre-back, according to TeamTalk. A move to Forest in January was also mooted, but Chalobah is believed to have turned them down.
Phil Jones
Another former United star who is a free agent is Jones. The centre-back left Old Trafford in July 2023 but no team has snapped him up since. Although he is yet to announce his retirement from professional football, in September 2023, he confirmed that he was undergoing a football directorship course with the Professional Footballers' Association Business School, while he also completes his UEFA coaching A License at United. His last official match came in May 2022 against Brentford, according to Soccerway.
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A special mention also goes out to Brazil superstar Neymar of Al Hilal, whose last appearance came in October.
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