Despite his talent, the career of French midfielder Mathieu Flamini looks as if it may end as an incredibly cheap one after it emerged that the anchorman could complete another free transfer – returning to former club Arsenal.
Barely out of his teens, Flamini made the original switch to North London from Marseille for a nominal fee before moving to Milan in 2008 when his Arsenal contract expired.
In a near identical case, the injury-ridden Frenchman looks unlikely to pen a new contract at the San Siro and will surely move on a free transfer at the end of this season.
Flamini has made just one appearance this season after suffering a tear to his cruciate ligament before succumbing to what is thought to have been a recurrence of the injury earlier this month.
The 28 year-old is expected to return to full fitness in early April and should Arsene Wenger feel that he is capable of returning his former charge to his fighting best, Flamini could be a tidy bargain.
Wenger was in charge of Flamini for four seasons when he was playing in North London, in which time the player made over 100 appearances for the Gunners.
The defensive midfielder has racked up a similar amount of appearances for I Rossaneri but has been restricted in adding to that tally this campaign.
Denilson, Abou Diaby and Emmanuel Frimpong are just three midfield names being linked with exits from the Emirates Stadium this summer, freeing up space for a possible Flamini arrival at the end of the current season.