I'm sorry but he wasn't one of the best midfielders in Europe. Yes he was a very good player but he was a player with a very high ceiling with a good few clubs chasing him. To be one of the best midfielders in Europe, you have to prove yourself over an extended period of time.Yeah and in three years with "serious attitude problem" he went from 2nd tier to 60m signing as he became one of the best midfielders in Europe.
If anything this proves he is more talented, he can be 15kg overweight and is still fantastic.
He went from the 2nd tier to Lyon after a successful loan. We actually looked at Ndombele the Summer before we signed him when we could have got him for £15m. We had doubts however and decided against it. He then had a great season and we bit the bullet. No one can disagree that it was a huge mistake on our part to sign him.
He is an incredibly talented player, no one can debate that. But under Paratici and Nuno, we're trying to build an exciting team with players who WANT to play for us. Unfortunately, we can no longer afford to carry Ndombele and so it's time we move him on. I think the only chance we have of selling is a loan with an option and due to his desire to leave, he actually puts the required effort in for a season and gets his move.
It's incredibly frustrating that it hasn't worked out but this is why the personality of a player is key and you will see that our signings this window will all be hungry players with a desire to succeed.