Joao Palhinha (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Bayern’s João Palhinha was voted the Bundesliga’s flop of the season by fellow players after a lacklustre campaign marked by limited appearances.
João Palhinha has been voted the biggest disappointment of the Bundesliga season in a poll conducted by German outlet Kicker, which annually surveys players from across the German top flight.
In the latest edition of the survey, 39.9% of participants declined to answer the question regarding the season’s biggest flop, but among those who did, 13.4% selected Palhinha, placing the Bayern Munich midfielder at the top of the unenviable list.
The Portuguese international was signed after a lengthy pursuit and high expectations, with Bayern hoping he would add steel and compactness to their midfield. However, Palhinha struggled to make an impact, playing just 17 league games, starting in the first eleven only six times throughout the campaign.
Following Palhinha in the flop rankings were Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund (10.2%) and Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen. Other names mentioned include Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), André Silva (Werder Bremen), and Emre Can (Dortmund).
The results highlight the tough scrutiny star players face in the Bundesliga—particularly those wearing the Bayern Munich shirt, where expectations are consistently sky-high.