One of the hottest properties of last summer's European transfer market has decamped to China for a staggering €42m fee with plenty of questions left unanswered at Atletico Madrid
It looked like an inspired signing. When Jackson Martinez moved from Porto to Atletico Madrid last summer, most hailed the deal as a triumph for Diego Simeone's side. But just over six months later, the Colombian forward has joined Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao in China to leave fans wondering what went wrong.
It was not what anyone expected and least of all, it seems, the player himself. As recently as January 29, Jackson was posting positive messages on social media about Atleti. Within days, however, everything changed.
On the night of February 2, it was announced that the 29-year-old would be moving to Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chinese champions for an Asian-record €42 million - some seven million more than he had cost Atletico back in July.
Then, he had been considered one of Europe's hottest properties. Atletico won the race for his signature, but he came at a high price: €35m. It was a fee he never lived up to despite Simeone's constant claims that he would eventually come good.
Jackson started slowly, but did score in his second game for Atleti - a 3-0 win at Sevilla. In and out of the side after that, he had to wait until late October for his second strike as he netted in the Champions League success at home to Astana.
The goal was a fortunate one, a deflected effort that brought a huge smile to his face and an enthusiastic celebration from Simeone on the sidelines. "Strikers live from goals and that will give him confidence," the Argentine said afterwards.
That statement seemed correct because the Colombian added another in Atleti's next match - a 2-1 win over Valencia at the Vicente Calderon.
But in 10 more appearances between November and late January, there were no more goals for Jackson and the South American did not feature for a single minute in the Copa del Rey quarter-final second leg at home to Celta Vigo, nor against Barcelona in La Liga at Camp Nou. The writing was very much on the wall.
FULL STORY | Jackson joins Guangzhou Evergrande for €42m
Blighted by fitness problems in recent months and struggling to adapt to a more demanding league after scoring against all and sundry in Portugal, Jackson has now accepted a very different type of challenge instead of biding his time and fighting for a place in Simeone's side.
Even Antoine Griezmann, now an idol at the Calderon, took time to settle after moving to Atletico. But in the Frenchman's case, Simeone was convinced that he would come good and he has done so spectacularly. He is also considerably younger than his former team-mate and had experience in La Liga too.
With Jackson, Simeone spoke of "blind faith" in his abilities, but at the age of 29 and with the threat of a two-window ban hanging over the club, Atleti decided that a €7m profit on the struggling striker was just too good to turn down.
"It was difficult for him to adapt," Atletico president Enrique Cerezo said on Wednesday. "He is a good player, but he has been unlucky and undoubtedly the best option for all parties is the one that went ahead."
Financially, the move makes sense for the player who will be earning big money as he helps raise the standard of the football in China, following the likes of Ramires and Fredy Guarin to the Chinese league in the winter window.
In his native Colombia, however, there is disappointment at the performance of the national team ever since success at the 2014 World Cup and Jackson's move is seen by most as a lack of ambition that could well cost him his place under Jose Pekerman.
At China's strongest club, he will have a shot at a national title, the Asian Champions League and potentially the Club World Cup too. He will also earn plenty of money.
However, his vacant expression in the photographs posted to announce the transfer is in stark contrast to the beaming face of agent Jorge Mendes, who was behind this deal just as he brokered the move for Radamel Falcao from Atleti to Monaco in 2013.
Falcao, of course, has never been the same since following the path to riches over aspiring to win the top trophies at a time when he was considered the world's best striker, suffering a serious injury in France before disappointing spells at both Manchester United and Chelsea.
Jackson has to hope things turn out better and that the move to China is a success. At 29, he still has several years left to prove himself and also improve one of the world's emerging leagues.
For the neutrals, though, it is just a shame he couldn't cut it on for one of Europe's elite, stay in the spotlight for just a little longer and fulfill his undoubted potential on the game's greatest stages.
- Goal