Bayern Munich: Top five signings who failed to live up to the expectations

Several players with amazing abilities could not turn up for the Bavarians during their stay with the club.

Bayern Munich have dominated German Football for sometime now but interestingly they were not part of the Bundesliga since the start in 1963. However after gaining promotion they have been anything but sensational.

They have reigned supreme in Europe as well and has nurtured top professionals who have made it big for the German national team as well. The system and shrewd transfer dealings of Bayern Munich has kept them relevant even during this era where the transfer market has seen a steady inflation.

However despite all the envious business the club has done over the years, some players failed to make it big at the club owing to different unwanted circumstances. We have compiled a list of top five players who failed to live up to the expectations of the Bayern faithful.

Marcell Jansen

Marcell Jansen joined Bayern Munich in 2007 with a lot of hopes. Jansen was already one of the top youngsters in his position in Europe and with players like Bixente Lizarazu and Ze Roberto past their prime, he was supposed to be their replacement.

However things did not work out for the versatile defender as he had several injury problems in Bavaria. He also had his issues with then manager Jurgen Klinsmann and eventually the talented defender was sold to Hamburger SV and became one of their most crucial players. He also kept featuring for the German national team.

However, after seven years of association with Hamburger SV, the club decided not to renew his contract. Jansen felt that Hamburger was the club for him and decided not to sign elsewhere and retired at the age of 29. Jansen is currently serving Hamburger SV as their club President.

Jose Ernesto Sosa

The Estudiantes youth graduate was one of the stars coming out of Argentina at that time and Bayern Munich yet again had high hopes form the Argentinian midfielder. Sosa's maturity as a playmaker during that time impressed everyone at Bavaria. He was a very technical player with a wide range of passing skills.

He showed some of his talent after coming to the Allianz Arena in 2007 for a fee of £6.30 million. However his inconsistency often forced him falling down the pecking order. He struggled to find proper game time and eventually left the club.

He has been a true journeyman after leaving South Germany as he had stints in Ukraine, Italy, won a league title with Atletico Madrid before playing for Besiktas, AC Milan and Trabzonspor. Sosa at 34 is still going strong as he is currently plying his trade for Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor.

Lukas Podolski

The German international featured for Bayern Munich in the early part of his career when he joined Die Roten for £7 million in 2007 from FC Koln. Podolski impressed with his consistent performances and therefore the German giants decided to rope him in.

However his stint at Bayern Munich was marred with persistent injury problems and the fact that he had to compete with the likes of Miroslav Klose and Italian goal machine Luca Toni - Podolski always played the catching game.

In his three years at Bayern Munich, he did not make the sort of impact which was expected from him at the start as he returned to FC Koln. He later featured for clubs like Arsenal, Inter Milan and Galatasaray and also had a stint in Japan with Vissel Kobe. However his best time in his career came donning the German national team colours.

Podolski currently plies his trade for Tukish Super Lig outfit Antalyaspor.

Jean Pierre Papin

One of the natural goalscorers ever to grace the game, Jean-Pierre Papin joined Bayern Munich in 1994. The French forward was known for his goal-scoring instincts at Olympique de Marseille where his performances resulted in him winning the 1991 Balon d'Or. He made a move to Italy, joining AC Milan where he formed a great partnership with the likes Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard - which resulted in UEFA Champions League glory for the Rossoneri.

Looking at his plaudits in France and Italy, Bayern Munich were eager to land him in Bavaria. However, Papin's first season at the club was marred with incessant injuries. In the second season, Papin won the UEFA Cup with the Bavarians before leaving for French outfit Bordeaux.

Papin is considered one of the greats in the sport but his time at Bayern Munich could have been a lot better had he managed to stay fit and revived his goal scoring form.

Breno Borges

The Brazilian youngster who was destined for greatness in his career, became infamous for unwanted things during his time at Bayern Munich. The German giants fought with several European clubs to bring the 18-year-old centre back to the Allianz Arena. Borges was thought to be the long term replacement of his compatriot and star defender Lucio.

Breno went out on loan to Nuremberg to grow as a player and on his return to Bayern Munich in the next season, he struggled to get going as incessant injury problems hindered his progress at the club. The Brazilian defender who was once touted as a future sensation only managed 33 appearances for the Bavarians during his time at the club.

Injuries were a prime reason for his struggles but off the field issues also tarnished his image as his house was set up in flames and Breno was charged with involvement of the the fire and received a prison sentence of more than three years for arson. After his return from prison, he spent a short time at Bayern's coaching facility before moving out to his boyhood club Sao Paulo.

Still only 30, Breno currently plies his trade for Brazilian Serie A side Vasco Da Gama.