10 Most Expensive Newcastle Transfer Flops In History

3. Hugo Viana

When Sir Bobby splashed out £8.5 million to make a 19-year-old Viana Britain's most expensive teenager in 2003 there was a veritable buzz that greeted the Portugal under-21 international arrival on Tyneside. After all, we'd just acquired the Young European Footballer of the year and a future star by all accounts. "The general consensus of opinion is that he's the best young player in the world at the moment," were the words of chairman Freddy Shepherd at the time. A bright opening to his career on Tyneside soon unravelled as Viana struggled to adapt to the robust demands of the English game, while his adjustment wasn't aided by Robson who continually stationed him out on the left-flank in spite of his preference to operate from an attacking midfield position. Whether it was the fault of Viana, Robson or the club as a whole for his failure to live up to his potential he still ranks as an expensive blot on Newcastle's transfer history.