10 stars who may have played their last game at their current club

Already depriving football fans of their beloved sport, the coronavirus pandemic looks like it’s on course to bring abrupt ends to several high-profile careers at clubs throughout Europe. Here are 10 stars out of contract this summer who may have played their last match without saying one final goodbye to their adoring fans.

Willian (Chelsea)

Willian, 31, was at his best in Chelsea’s last match before the suspension of the 2019-20 campaign, scoring a goal and providing an assist against Everton in what may have been his final appearance for the Blues.

As the youngsters continue to get opportunities and thrive under manager Frank Lampard, it seems inevitable that Willian – winner of two Premier League titles and the Europa League following his arrival at Chelsea in 2013 – will depart this summer.

Adam Lallana (Liverpool)

Lallana seemed like an ideal signing with the potential to be a star at Anfield when he arrived in 2014. But, in hindsight, he was a victim of Liverpool’s success.

A combination of serious injuries and Liverpool’s phenomenal recruitment in recent years forced Lallana into cheering from the sidelines during many of the team’s most memorable moments – including last season’s Champions League triumph when he was an unused substitute against Tottenham.

David Silva (Manchester City)

When Manchester City honor the generation of superstars who helped fill the trophy cabinet over the last decade, you can be sure that David Silva will have a prominent place among the club’s living legends.

One of the best to ever wear a City kit, Silva will be remembered as one of the greatest players in Premier League history. Yet, as things stand, the Spaniard’s chances of wrapping up his illustrious career with a fairytale ending in Manchester seem to grow slimmer with every passing day.

City fans will feel lucky that they got to watch the 34-year-old lift one last trophy after Pep Guardiola’s men won the League Cup on March 1.

Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham)

Filling the void left by Vertonghen could take years, with Tottenham set to lose one of the most reliable center-backs to feature in the Premier League in recent years.

Vertonghen has over 300 appearances under his belt and will be best remembered as one of the key figures who helped Spurs evolve into legitimate contenders on both the domestic and European stages.

Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)

First, Cavani was second fiddle to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Then he was forced to take a backseat to Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

There’s no doubt, however, that the Uruguayan striker is a Paris Saint-Germain legend. He’s set to complete his wildly underrated career in the French capital as the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain)

With his contract up in June, Thiago Silva will be gutted if he’s forced to leave PSG without getting another chance to win the Champions League.

The Brazilian defender has been the backbone of a PSG side that’s dominated the competition in France since his arrival in 2012. But amidst the uncertainty looming over European football, the 35-year-old might end his illustrious career without the only trophy that’s eluded PSG.

Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)

Buffon may have already enjoyed a tear-jerking farewell when he left Juventus in 2018, but that doesn’t mean the legendary goalkeeper doesn’t deserve another memorable send-off by the Bianconeri faithful if he decides to leave again.

Still, given the 42-year-old’s seemingly endless will to keep playing, hardly anyone would be surprised if he re-upped with Juve for another season.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)

It obviously wasn’t the reunion Ibrahimovic and Milan fans had in mind when he returned to Italy in January.

The 38-year-old did, however, manage to offer supporters of the struggling Serie A side a reminder of better days. Ibrahimovic scored four goals in eight appearances during his brief cameo back in Milan, including a tally in what could have been his last appearance for the Rossoneri before matches in Italy were brought to a halt.

Dries Mertens (Napoli)

Although Mertens is on the wrong side of 30, the Belgian attacker is still a driving force in Napoli’s attack.

The 32-year-old recently matched the club’s all-time top scorer, Marek Hamsik, with his 121st goal in February, and he was linked with a move to the Premier League in January before a transfer to Chelsea reportedly fell through.

Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund)

Still just 27, Gotze will likely have some decent options to choose from if he doesn’t return to Borussia Dortmund.

The German international looks poised to begin the next phase of his career with a clean bill of health now that his debilitating metabolic illness appears to be in the rearview mirror. But a return to the Westfalenstadion seems unlikely considering the abundance of young talent at the Bundesliga club.