10 Dodgy British footballing exports

No wonder the rest of Europe was reluctant to start eating our beef again if these 10 were their measure for the quality of British exports . British players are notorious for not settling abroad, and here are some examples of how they earnt that reputation.

1 Ian Rush - Juventus
Some players really were just made for one club, and Ian Rush his one. He left Liverpool in 1987 for a season in Italy, but moved back after scoring seven goals in 29 games moaning that it was "like living in a foreign country."

2 Luther Blissett - AC Milan
Allegedly signed in error instead of John Barnes, Watford's other black player at the time. Blissett signed for £1 million, scored five in 30 games and was then transferred back to Watford for £550,000.

3 Lee Sharpe - Sampdoria
Managed a grand total of three games in Italy. He was signed by David Platt on loan in 1998, but found himself back with Leeds United shortly after Platt was sacked.

4 Jay Bothroyd - Perugia
Joined Perugia as a 21-year-old in 2003. He should have known it wouldn't work out when they followed his signing by bringing in Colonel Gaddafi's son, a woman (obviously ineligible to play) and a goat. Was soon lining up a loan move to Blackburn.

5 Mark Hughes - Barcelona
Signed for Barca for £2 million in 1986, but soon found himself on loan at Bayern Munich where he didn't fare much better.

6 Stan Collymore - Real Oviedo
Found himself the subject of legal action by the Spanish club after calling time on his faltering career shortly after joining them.

7 Paul Gascoigne - Lazio
Gazza never managed to endear himself to the Italian public. He was usually sidelined with bizarre injuries (such as a thigh strain picked up while getting out of bed). He did find time to belch down a microphone while on TV though.

8 Scott Minto - Benfica
A benefactor of Graeme Souness's policy of bring mediocre British players to one of Portugal's top clubs. Managed 31 games in his 18 months in Portugal.

9 Craig Davies - Verona
When Verona signed 20-year-old Oxford United striker Davies in January this year it seemed an unlikely marriage. They are currently separated - with Davies on loan at Wolves - and expected to divorce soon.

10 Jonathan Woodgate - Real Madrid
Has hardly played a game for Real so far. When he did get fit enough to make his debut, he scored an own goal and then got sent off.

Rob