“They were reckless to let him go — sold for just £17M, and now he’s the best in the world!” Pochettino stunned by ex-Prem flop’s transformation
Mauricio Pochettino has set the football world buzzing after a bold statement about a player once dismissed as a minor figure in the Premier League. Offloaded for a modest £17 million back in 2019, this player has since blossomed into a global superstar, widely hailed as one of the finest talents on the planet.
In a recent interview, the former Chelsea manager was blunt:
“They were foolish to sell him. For only £17M! And now he’s the best in the world, right at the very top.”
Though Pochettino avoided naming the club, fans wasted no time piecing it together — and two names quickly rose to the surface.
The first is Moussa Diaby, who PSG sold to Bayer Leverkusen in 2019 for exactly £17M. The French winger has since exploded onto the scene, mixing lightning speed with sharp end product. Now a regular for France and a key figure at Aston Villa, he’s tormenting defenders week in, week out.
The second name is perhaps even more staggering: Serge Gnabry. Written off by Arsenal and even ridiculed during a loan at West Brom, Gnabry reinvented himself at Bayern Munich, winning trophies galore, including the Champions League.
Whether Pochettino meant Diaby or Gnabry, the point is crystal clear: Premier League clubs often cut ties with young players too quickly, failing to nurture them into stars. The result? Talents once dismissed as surplus are now world-beaters.
Pochettino’s remark has reignited heated debate about short-sighted transfer decisions. Fans are furious, scouts are red-faced, and managers who once let these gems go are left regretting choices that came back to haunt them.
