Ending up at Stoke City represented a significant downgrade on his original destination, but it at least brought an end to one of the most tortuous transfer sagas in recent history. For two years, Saido Berahino had been a disruptive presence in the West Bromwich Albion dressing room. The club’s golden boy as he progressed through the ranks to the first team, he soon became a needless distraction.
In January 2015, midway through a sparkling breakthrough season in which he scored 20 goals, Berahino was already showing public signs of frustration. He refused to celebrate whilst notching a hat-trick against Gateshead in the FA Cup and indicated that he was keen to move to a bigger club. West Brom broke off contract talks and from then on his departure became inevitable. It was simply a matter of when, rather than if.
Bids of £15million and rising from Tottenham Hotspur were rejected as they held out for more. A transfer request was handed in and, as deadline day approached, Berahino was left out of the squad. His disappointment with the way negotiations were handled was made painfully obvious through Twitter complaints about Jeremy Peace, and a threat never to play for the club again while he remained as chairman.
Consigned to the substitutes’ bench for much of the season as a result of his petulant behaviour, Berahino struggled for form and fitness. His relationship with supporters was irreversibly damaged. Newcastle and Stoke also had offers turned down but the longer West Brom clung on to Berahino, the further his value declined. With no intention of offering him a new contract, a deal needed to be done.
By then overweight and out of favour, the Potters finally got their man for £12million in January. Details of a failed drugs test earlier in the season got out soon after. Berahino said that his drink had been spiked and that he’d felt depressed during a difficult period. The five-and-a-half-year contract he signed was a remarkable show of faith from Stoke, considering how long he’d spent demotivated, underperforming and at odds with the West Brom hierarchy.
Given all of this recent turmoil, and the utter collapse in Berahino’s impact as a result, it’s easy to forget just how good he could be. In 2014, he was named England Under-21s Player of the Year ahead of Harry Kane, who’s since gone on to win two Premier League Golden Boots. A fine goalscorer, with sharp movement and unerring finishing at his best, it's imperative that he pushes on.
In 18 appearances last season, for West Brom and Stoke, Berahino didn't score at all so will be keen to make an immediate impression. Now a stone lighter and with a full pre-season programme behind him, he looks set to be the main man at the Britannia Stadium, charged with firing Mark Hughes’ side out of their current malaise. Berahino's allowed his career to drift for too long and, at 24, he needs to start making up for lost time.
