A weekly analysis of British footballers' performances abroad. Discover this week's winners and losers, with Harry Kane shining in Germany and others facing challenges in Spain and Italy.
This article analyzes the performance of British footballers abroad , with more and more stars choosing to leave the comforts of the UK in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. While the Premier League remains one of the most exciting divisions in the world, there are many other options for professional development.
While some local heroes enjoyed a fruitful weekend, there were also plenty of stories of struggle to counter them. Sometimes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Every Monday, GOAL will bring you a definitive overview of British footballers abroad , highlighting their greatest successes and who could benefit from a return home.
WINNER: Harry Kane
Harry Kane is slowing down. His one-goal effort in Bayern Munich's 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt marked the first time this Bundesliga season he hasn't made multiple goal contributions in a match.
Joking aside, the former Tottenham captain seems to improve with age. At 32, he's shown great wisdom and has adapted his game. Due to injuries in the squad, Kane has taken on a more supportive role, dropping into midfield to create space and take the creative reins of the team.
His goal came in the 27th minute, a low, powerful shot from about 20 yards out that flew in off the post, described by him as a "little golf power fade" due to its spin. This performance has put him in the European Golden Boot race. Kane also calmed fears of a serious injury after limping off near the end of the match.
LOSER: Marcus Rashford
It's a shame that Barcelona's match in Seville won't be remembered for Marcus Rashford's brilliance, but rather for his team's humiliating 4-1 defeat. His goal, which at the time seemed like the catalyst for a comeback, extended his streak of direct goal contributions to eight matches for club and country.
It was a stunner: a spectacular volley with his weaker left foot after a great pass from Pedri. It was his first La Liga goal, but it was reduced to mere folly after Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty and Sevilla scored two more goals in stoppage time. Despite the defeat, coach Hansi Flick praised the team's second-half comeback.
WINNER: Lloyd Kelly
The use of “winner” here is quite liberal. We could easily replace it with “loser.” But in this case, we mark Lloyd Kelly as a winner in the sense that he was a “very, very lucky guy.”
During Juventus' match against AC Milan, Kelly, who has become a key figure for Juve, made a glaring error by bringing down Santiago Giménez in the penalty area. However, fortunately for him, Christian Pulisic, captain of the US national team, comically blasted the penalty kick high over the bar. This miss diverted the attention of the Italian media, who focused on criticizing coach Igor Tudor's tactics instead of Kelly's mistake, highlighting the pressures British footballers face abroad.
LOSER: Jobe Bellingham
Jobe Bellingham's signing for Borussia Dortmund seemed destined to be a huge success, given the club's reputation for youth development and the history of his brother Jude.
However, what seemed like a dream move has turned into a nightmare. On the pitch, he has yet to adapt to the demands of the Bundesliga. Off it, the continued presence of his parents has created a “dangerous atmosphere of tension” that makes him feel “insecure.” Germany legend Dietmar Hamann went so far as to say that the young midfielder is Dortmund’s “only cause for concern” so far. This weekend, he came off the bench in a 1-1 draw and made little impact, completing just four passes in 20 minutes.
LOSER: Jamie Vardy
There was much fascination surrounding Jamie Vardy's decision to join newly promoted Serie A side Cremonese, leaving his comfort zone in search of a new challenge.
How is the 38-year-old striker faring? Not very well. In fact, Cremonese's impressive start to the season has faltered since Vardy started playing. The team won their first two matches without him, but have drawn three and lost one since his arrival. On Saturday, their unbeaten run ended with a defeat to Inter at San Siro, highlighting the challenges even veteran British footballers playing abroad can face.
