When Oscar made his Chelsea debut against Juventus scoring two goals, including that stunning long-range effort, it would be fair to say the footballing world stood up and took note.
Much was now expected of the latest talented youngster to come off the Brazilian conveyor belt. If you were to say in four years time he would be leaving Chelsea for a massive £60m transfer fee many would have believed you. Such a talent would surely eventually make the well-trodden path from the Premier League to one of the El Classico giants.
However, it is neither Barcelona nor Real Madrid that has broken the bank to land Oscar, but Shanghai SIPG.
The general consensus seems to be that Oscar never quite managed to live up to the huge promise he showed in the early stages of his career in England.
For Chelsea it is, on the face of it, an offer simply too good to turn down. Receiving a club record fee for a player who has barely featured this season, and can hardly be regarded as crucial in this year’s title challenge, is undoubtedly brilliant business.
Oscar’s legacy at Chelsea as a player who promised much is more than a little harsh. The stats alone suggest that his four years at Chelsea had laid the foundations for a fantastic career with the blues. Between the ages of 20-24 Oscar amassed75 goals and assists for Chelsea.
In comparison Chelsea legend Frank Lampard had 45 goals and assists at the same stage in his career and Steven Gerrard had managed only 26. Oscar’s performance during this time is particularly impressive considering he arrived at Chelsea directly from Brazil only 20 years old.
Despite the massive lifestyle change, and not to mention the challenge of playing in arguably the most unforgiving league in the world, he managed to achieve stats that place him ahead of true legends of the Premier League era.
Oscar is one of many young players to become victims of the instant era of football. In today’s game, it is not only results that must be instant but also talent.
Unless a player is ‘the finished article’ by 23/24 there is now a tendency to view them as not good enough. The mercurial talents of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have distorted our view of what is to be expected of players aged 22/23/24.
The reality is that only the truly exceptional players, that only occur once or twice in a decade are capable of living up to this expectation. To expect consistent brilliance from a young player is wholly unrealistic.
Consider Luis Suarez, arguably the most lethal striker in the world. At the age of 25, he was halfway through his first full season at Liverpool. At the same age, Oscar had five years of Premier league experience under his belt.
It was only when Suarez turned 27 that he truly took England by storm and nearly fired Liverpool to a first Premier League title. Arjen Robben is another example.
Chelsea signed him aged 20, and after three injury-plagued years, he was sold to Real Madrid. By 25 he was deemed not good enough for Bernabeu and sold to Bayern Munich where he became on of the most feared wingers in European football.
Suarez and Robben will both go down as individuals that were amongst the finest players of their generation. Both did not establish themselves as truly world class until they were in their mid to late twenties.
It is impossible to say whether Oscar would have found that extra level and consistency with age but it is important to recognise the fact that the foundations were there for greatness.
To regard him as a player that has reached his peak is completely false. Perhaps had Chelsea rejected the offer they could have had one of Europe’s premium playmakers on their hands.
The only thing for certain is that Oscar won’t be too bothered with questions of ‘what if’ as he sits in Shanghai counting his yuan.
