It was in 1997, just short of his 18th birthday, that Nicolas Anelka joined Arsenal from Paris Saint German for a fee of �500,000 one of Arsene Wenger�s first signings for the club. Two years, 90 games and 28 goals later, he brought in an incredible �22.3 million when Real Madrid took him over to Spain. Wenger�s uncanny ability to make profits on the transfer market were unveiled to the public.
Anelka�s time at Arsenal was mixed, to say the least but that was to turn out to be true almost throughout his career. In the double winning season of 1997/98, he had been exceptional, helping cover for the injury to Gunners� legend and record goalscorer, Ian Wright. Voted PFA Young Player of the Year although he famously missed the Presentation ceremony he was one of the most talked about young players in the world game. The following season, though, saw Arsenal fans begin to question his commitment to the team and the impression was that Nicholas� brother, Claude, who was also his agent, was trying to engineer a lucrative move abroad.
When the move came, to Madrid, the player famously found it difficult to settle in the Spanish capital and, instead of being a young player of promise, he was now a record transfer fee player, of whom the expectations were enormous. His agony at Real included his now infamous refusal to train and subsequent 45 day suspension and he must have been so relieved when Paris Saint German took him back home again to France in 2000.
It was only 18 months before Nicholas was on the move again, however; this time on a six month loan to Liverpool. Although he only scored 4 goals in 20 matches, he appeared to enjoy his spell at Anfield and made no secret of his desire to remain at the club. G�rard Houlier, though, preferred to sign El Hadji Diouf, and Nicholas, instead, joined Kevin Keegan at Manchester City.
After three seasons with the club, Anelka moved to Turkey to play for Fenerbah�e for a title winning season before returning to the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers. When he left for Chelsea in the January transfer window of 2008, his total transfer fees amounted to �90 million a figure second only to Cristiano Ronaldo.
As soon as Anelka joined Chelsea he looked at home, fitting in well with their style of play despite often being used as a substitute or played on the wing. It was the following season of 2008/09 that he really made his biggest impact, however, winning the Premier League�s Golden Boot for his 18 goals.
This season has seen a continuation of Anelka�s good form. Despite media conjecture, he has shown that he can forge a good partnership with Didier Drogba and has developed into a fine team player something that looked very unlikely at the start of his career. A technically supremely gifted player, with fine pace and a clinical finishing touch, he has also become an integral part of the French squad, making 61 appearances and scoring 13 goals so far.
Nicolas Anelka might end up being one of those players more appreciated by their team mates than by supporters. A naturally shy and sensitive person, temperamentally he clearly finds some aspects of being a professional footballer uncomfortable. Undoubtedly, though, he is one of the most talented forward players in the modern game even though it�s taken until the last few years to consistently show it to the full.
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