10 Premier League Flops Who Could Become World Cup 2014 Stars

4. Jo - Brazil

Yet another forward on this list that was at one time a Premier League club's record signing, Jo was one of the last players to arrive at Manchester City in the era when the club was owned by controversial Thai tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra. The 21 year old striker was signed from CSKA Moscow for £19 million, but a month later the club was bought out by Sheikh Mansour and his Abu Dhabi group and they shattered that earlier record through buying Robinho for £32.5 million. The young Brazilian struggled to hold down a first team place, scoring just once in 9 Premier League appearances. As more and more forwards arrived in the shape of Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz the following summer, there was never going to be a place for Jo with the Citizens and he moved on loan to Everton. In his final two Premier League seasons Jo played 15 games with no goals for Everton in 2009/10 and 12 games with no goals for City in 2010/11, after which he was sent packing back to Brazil. Since joining Atletico Mineiro and forming a partnership with 2002 World Cup star Ronaldinho, Jo has matured into a top class striker. A regular goalscorer throughout the 2013 Copa Libertadores, Jo's goals helped the club become champions of South America for the first time and helped him play his way into the national team. At last year's Confederations Cup, probably the best indicator of Brazil's competitive ability at home, Jo scored in group games against Japan and Mexico. Although Fred is likely to be Brazil's starting centre forward, he has been replaced by Jo in the recent warm up games so the former Man City man is likely to get his chance at some point.