10 Players Who Didn't Fulfil Their Potential At Newcastle
2. Xisco
Francisco Jimenez Tejada AKA Xisco was to this date one of the most controversial signings in Newcastle United history. Signed alongside questionably talented Uruguayan Nacho Gonzalez, Xisco cost £5.7m and given wages of roughly £50k a week - such was his perceived potential. And he seemed a reasonable addition immediately as he scored on his debut in a losing to effort with Hull, but he then proceeded to fade into the background and before anybody knew it, Xisco was seventh choice striker at Newcastle United, behind the likes of Mark Viduka, Peter Lovenkrands and a 19 year old Andy Carroll. Xisco was signed aged 22 and had a lot of hype surrounding him, but was brought into a squad managed by Kevin Keegan, who at the time had never even heard of him or Gonzalez and had strongly disagreed with their signings, to the point that he left the club in disgust. He had been seen as a great prospect on the managing simulation game Football Managerand Dennis Wise forced the transfers through, over Keegans head. But alas, the move did not turn out to be a great one, for club or player: during his 2008-2013 spell, Xisco featured for the first team just nine times, and cost the club over £10m in wages, plus a near £6m transfer fee. All in all, a lot of money for a player who scored just one goal. Xisco can now be found in Spains Segunda Division, playing for Cordoba - a little more like a club worthy of his level of quality.
