In this edition of our ‘Returning Players’ series, we look at Juan Sebastian Veron and his journey with Estudiantes, beginning in 1994 before a return in 2007.
Returning Players – Juan Sebastian Veron
First Spell at Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata, to give them their full title, were the club where Juan Sebastian Veron made his senior breakthrough. He stayed at the club for two seasons and was a key player, ensuring that they returned to the Argentine Primera Division. He turned out 65 times for Los Pincharratas in his first spell.
In 1996, he joined Boca Juniors and played alongside the late, great Diego Maradonna in 17 games where he managed to score three goals.
Teams That Juan Sebastian Veron Played for in Between
Veron was much travelled in his career and had spells in both England and Italy. After playing for both Parma and Lazio, Veron became the most expensive English transfer at that time, signing for Manchester United in a deal worth £28.1 million for five years.
Veron had excelled in Italy and found the slower pace of the game suited to his style but the Premier League was a different proposition. Despite starting positively at Old Trafford, he soon began to struggle with the pace of the football. The lack of any time and space on the ball saw him lose possession, often leading to grumbles and groans from the United faithful.
Two years later, Veron signed for Claudio Ranieri’s Chelsea for a fee nearly half of what he joined United for and the player had a point to prove, with the press deeming him to be one of football’s most expensive flops. In the 2003/04 season, Veron was beset by injuries and when Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in 2004 his nightmare English journey was nearing its end. He spent a total of four seasons at Stamford Bridge but spent three years out on loan, making just 14 appearances for the Blues.
Return to Estudiantes
By 2006, Veron had been on loan in Italy at Inter Milan but was feeling homesick for his native Argentina, and this alerted interest from giants Boca Juniors and River Plate. However, Veron wanted to rejoin the club of his childhood and early years as a professional footballer and returned to Estudiantes once more.
Chelsea allowed him to join the Argentina club on loan and he helped them win the Apertura in 2006, which was the first success for them in 23 years.
Major League Soccer side DC United wanted to take Veron and the player did hold initial discussions with them but ultimately decided that he wanted to remain with Estudiantes. Not only was Veron a confirmed fan of the club, but he also made numerous generous donation to the club to help with the building of a new and improved training complex.
Returning Players – Juan Sebastian Veron’s Dream Comes True
It was not just Veron who had a life long love affair with his home town club but his father was also a famous player and won three Copa Libertadores with the club between 1968 and 1971, and that was a title that Veron junior wanted to win once more.
In 2009, that dream came true and a career that went full circle starting and ending with Estudiantes was complete.
A complex and often frustrating player for fans in England but a huge star and success in his homeland and especially with his local club.
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