The outrageously talented Argentine centre-forward Mauro Zarate, 27, is on the move again, this time transferring from West Ham United to Queens Park Rangers on loan pending the completion of a medical.

Instead of having a career comparable to ex-Argentine U20 teammate Sergio Aguero, Zarate has wasted innumerable chances by refusing to compromise. 

Leave West Ham United amicably? No chance. 

Zarate feuded with West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce while sucking up to Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp.

“I believe my record entitles me to respect and I have not had that from [Allardyce],” Zarate said, per Darren Lewis at the Daily Mirror. “I now have the chance to play for [Redknapp], a coach who has faith in me and will not allow his personal feelings to get in the way.”

Obviously, Zarate has not kept up with the Redknapp-Adel Taarabt soap opera.

Allardyce rebutted Zarate‘s version of events.

“What [Zarate is] saying is not true,” Allardyce said, per Jacob Steinberg at The Guardian. “He wasn’t good enough.”

Premier League 2014-15	Goals/Games	Shots Per Goal	Assists	Key Passes Per Game
Andy Carroll	3/9	10.3	1	0.9
Carlton Cole	2/10	4.0	0	0.4
Diafra Sakho	7/13	5.7	2	0.9
Enner Valencia	3/16	10.7	2	0.5
Mauro Zarate	2/7	6.5	1	1.0
Stewart Downing	4/18	9.3	6	3.0

Despite having excellent balance on the ball, possessing world-class technique and being an entertaining footballer to watch, Zarate lacked Sakho‘s scoring touch and was not a creative outlet when compared to Downing.

You cannot fault Allardyce for cutting down Zarate‘s playing time because he was neither a productive scorer nor facilitator.

Did Zarate get enough chances? Yes.

In 415 minutes, Zarate scored twice, whereas Manchester City‘s 35-year-old loanee Frank Lampard scored four times in 344 minutes without having any breakaway speed, or recording a single dribble.

What probably irked Zarate was a lack of security in the West Ham United starting XI which may have affected his confidence.

He deflected blame to Allardyce for not providing enough moral support, rather than accept culpability for not putting up Aguero-like numbers.

This is the same “not my fault” mentality which led to Zarate‘s impasse at Al-Sadd.

“The Arabs arrived in Argentina … the first time they asked me to sign, I said ‘no’. But they kept on asking and because of the financial side, it was impossible not to take up their offer in the end,” Zarate said, per Colin Tattum at the Birmingham Mail. “I went [to Al-Sadd] and I thought it would be different.”

You can accept Zarate taking the quick money to improve the quality of life for his family. 

Though, what is inexplicable is he wanted out as soon as he got to Qatar, which explains his detour to then-Premier League club Birmingham City.

Then-Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish conceded Zarate was too good for them.

“I am sure performances like that will make it very difficult for us to hang on to [Zarate],” McLeish said, per Martin Smith at The Telegraph. “I hope he has a future in the Premier League because he loves his football and he’s a great kid.”

Lazio president Claudio Lotito went all in on Zarate, but denied claims of a monumental transfer fee.

“The figures that have been reported by the press don’t represent the reality,” Lotito said, per the Daily Mail. “The terms of the agreement foresee a valuation of the player which will rise to around €25 million because Zarate will turn out better than Lionel Messi.”

For about one season, you saw Zarate‘s two-footed play, his audacious vision, panache style and him being a difference-maker for Lazio.

Even if Zarate did not reach his ceiling of Messi, Lazio had a world-class player on their books.

Lotito presumptuously told Liverpool to quit their pursuit of Zarate, who had a tentative agreement to extend his loan at Lazio into a permanent deal.

“There is zero chance [for Liverpool to sign Zarate],” Lotito said, per Reuters (h/t ESPN FC). “Lazio will exercise their option to buy Zarate and [Al-Sadd] will not sell Zarate to Liverpool, full stop.”

Zarate scored 13 goals during his first Serie A season at Lazio.

Lotito invested upwards of €25 million, so he expected excellence going forward and was overly harsh on Zarate when he underperformed.

Zarate revealed he could not cope with the pressure. 

“I watched a game and then I went to the bathroom to cry … Why have I come home? I needed to feel important, to feel liked,” Zarate said, per Andres Garavaglia at Sky Sports. “The blame is on Lotito and a few players, in addition to the coach, it is them who make the decisions.”

Again, the “not my fault” mentality rearing its ugly head.

Zarate was a one-season wonder.

Post the 2008-09 season, Zarate scored 12 goals and registered 11 assists in his next 68 Serie A games.

What did not compute in Zarate‘s mind was Lotito and the Lazio suits who invested eight figures only to see a frustratingly inconsistent footballer.

When Zarate had the chance to prove his critics wrong on loan at Inter Milan, he scored two goals and created another two in 951 Serie A minutes.

Spot the odd one out, per FIFA.com: 

[Sergio] Aguero (10) and [Mauro] Zarate (9) or [Angel] Di Maria (18) … always worked excellently together.

They all had good dribbling skills, linked well in passing moves and had the knack of doing the right thing at the right time.

Zarate expects clubs to treat him as if he was born with a silver spoon, even though he is not a world-class player. 

It is as if Zarate is still living in the past thinking it is the 2007 FIFA U20 World Cup when he was on par with Aguero and Di Maria.

Once Zarate humbles himself, he may finally realise his potential.

Until then, Queens Park Rangers is the latest club to take a punt on Zarate, a player that is seeking career satisfaction, yet happiness seems to be wherever he isn’t. 

 

+allanjiang.

When not specified, statistics via WhoScored.com. 

from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2315370-mauro-zarate-will-west-ham-reject-find-happiness-at-queens-park-rangers
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