GOAL takes a look at some of the big-name players that decided to retrace their steps and head back to their former clubs
Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku are poised to leave the Premier League behind after difficult second spells at Manchester United and Chelsea – and seem set to join old flames Juventus and Inter, the Serie A clubs at which they played their best football.
The history of football is littered with players making emotional returns to their old clubs, here GOAL takes a look through some of the players who decided to try and rekindle the old spark…
Getty ImagesPaul Pogba (Juventus → Manchester United → Juventus)
After six years at Old Trafford, the France international is heading back to Turin – and will be hopeful that his second homecoming spell proves more fruitful than his first.
Pogba originally joined Juventus as a teenager after an acrimonious departure from Manchester United in 2012 where he was the outstanding youth player, and claimed four successive Serie A titles there before a €105 million (£90m/$110m) bid took him back to the Premier League.
It wasn't all bad back at Old Trafford, and there were times he looked like the inspirational world class midfielder who was a key cog in France's World Cup win, but too often he didn't, and a succession of coaches failed to rouse him to find his best form.
His free transfer back to Juventus is an opportunity for Pogba to show he can drive a club team forward, at a time the Bianconeri need it most.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesRomelu Lukaku (Inter → Chelsea → Inter)
If one story might trump Pogba's return, then it is Romelu Lukaku's San Siro homecoming merely a year after he left for his own comeback at Chelsea.
Just like the France international, the Belgium star initially returned to a former Premier League club with a point to prove, and tasted Club World Cup success while back with the Blues in his first season.
Lukaku's return to Stamford Bridge has been a disaster. A player who thrived in Antonio Conte's system becoming increasingly straitjacketed by Thomas Tuchel's tactics, with his performances nosediving as the season went on.
You get the feeling this isn't the last the Premier League has seen from the youngest player to join the 100 goal club, but he may not get a third bite at emulating Didier Drogba at the club he supported as a teenager.
Getty ImagesCristiano Ronaldo (Juventus → Manchester United)
When news broke that Cristiano Ronaldo might be headed to bitter rivals Manchester City last summer, the uproar was understandably toxic.
But a quick intervention from Sir Alex Ferguson and Rio Ferdinand – who told CR7 that his Manchester United legacy would be tarnished – and it was instead an emotional homecoming for the Portugal captain to Old Trafford, the place where he went from skinny, showboating teenager to free-scoring superstar.
He's been an easy target for a press obsessed with the fall of Manchester United, but gave the fans more moments to remember than any other player this season, and will be a more than useful lieutenant for Erik ten Hag if they gel.
Getty ImagesAntoine Griezmann (Barcelona → Atletico Madrid)
Another forward who just couldn't wait to get home after his big money move to Barcelona went belly up.
Given the acrimonious circumstances in which he departed Wanda Metropolitano, it almost felt something of a surprise to see Griezmann back from Camp Nou, particularly after Diego Simeone's side won La Liga in his absence.
But return Griezmann did, netting eight goals in 36 games as the Rojiblancos struggled in an unsuccessful title defence, the striker haven't recently appealed to the club to make his return permanent.
