The history of Chelsea’s cursed number nine shirt including Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao and more flops
Chelseas number nine shirt has been handed to new signing Gonzalo Higuain.The number has been cursed at Stamford Bridge with the likes of Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres failing to perform.New Chelsea signing Gonzalo Higuian with the number nine shirt9
New Chelsea signing Gonzalo Higuian with the number nine shirt
But will Higuain, who signed on loan from Juventus on Wednesday, break the curse?Here, talkSPORT looks at previous players who have worn the number nine shirt at Chelsea.

Hernan Crespo – (16million from Inter Milan in 2003)

Hernan Crespo has arguably been Chelsea’s most successful player who has worn the number nine shirt9
Hernan Crespo has arguably been Chelsea’s most successful player who has worn the number nine shirt
Hernan Crespo scored a respectable tally of 13 goals in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, but that wasnt enough to convince new manager Jose Mourinho in 2004.The Argentine joined AC Milan on loan after being surplus to requirements under Mourinho, who signed Didier Drogba.He returned to Chelsea and netted 13 times in their Premier League-winning 2005/06 season.Crespo joined Inter Milan on a two-year loan before leaving Chelsea after his contract expired in 2008.

Mateja Kezman – (5million from PSV in 2004)

Mateja Kezman spent just one season at Stamford Bridge9
Mateja Kezman spent just one season at Stamford Bridge
Mateja Kezman was one of Jose Mourinhos first signings as Chelsea boss.But the Serbs playing time was limited by first-choice strikers Drogba and Eidur Gudjohnsen.He managed to score seven goals in 40 appearances before leaving the club after just one season.

Khalid Boulahrouz – (7million from Hamburg in 2006)

Khalid Boulahrouz was a defender9
Khalid Boulahrouz was a defender
It was always strange seeing a right-back wear the number nine shirt. Khalid Boulahrouz was brought in to add competition to Paulo Ferreiras starting spot.He made 23 appearances in his debut season before being loaned to Sevilla for the 2007/08 campaign and joined Stuttgart on a permanent deal in 2009.

Steve Sidwell – (Free from Reading in 2007)

Steve Sidwell struggled for first-team opportunities at Chelsea9
Steve Sidwell struggled for first-team opportunities at Chelsea
The signing was just as odd as Steve Sidwell wearing the number nine shirt.The midfielder made 25 appearances, mostly as a substitute and was sold to Aston Villa for 5million in 2008.

Franco Di Santo – (3million from Audax Italiano in 2008)

Franco Di Santo failed to start a game for Chelsea9
Franco Di Santo failed to start a game for Chelsea
Franco Di Santo joined Chelsea as an 18-year-old and never started a game for the club.The Argentina striker failed to find the net in 16 substitute appearances.An unsuccessful loan to Blackburn followed before signing for Wigan for 2million in 2010.

Fernando Torres – (50million from Liverpool in 2011)

The goals dried up for Fernando Torres at Chelsea9
The goals dried up for Fernando Torres at Chelsea
Chelsea broke the British transfer record to bring Fernando Torres to Stamford Bridge.The Spaniard was one of Europes most prolific strikers at the time, scoring 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool.Torres won the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup with the Blues, while finding the net 46 times in 172 appearances.He could have been the long-term successor to Drogba, but his displays in a Chelsea shirt were far from convincing.He spent two seasons on loan at AC Milan and Atletico Madrid before joining the Serie A giants on a permanent deal in December 2014.

Radamel Falcao – (Season-long loan from Monaco in 2015)

Radamel Falcao’s spell with Chelsea was hampered by injury setbacks9
Radamel Falcao’s spell with Chelsea was hampered by injury setbacks
Despite scoring just four goals at Manchester United in the 2014/15 season, Mourinho gave Radamel Falcao a Premier League lifeline.He was brought in as cover for Diego Costa and started just two games for Chelsea.The Colombia striker scored once in 12 appearances. Chelsea had an option to make the deal permanent, which obviously, they didnt take up.

Alvaro Morata – (60million from Real Madrid in 2017)

Alvaro Morata is set to join Atletico Madrid on loan9
Alvaro Morata is set to join Atletico Madrid on loan
Chelsea broke their club-record transfer fee to sign Morata, who had been prolific with Real Madrid and Juventus.The Spain international got off to a flying start, scoring eight goals in as many games, including a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Stoke City.But it went downhill from there.Morata lost his starting place to January signing Olivier Giroud and ended up ditching his number nine shirt. This wasnt because of Chelseas number nine curse, though, he changed numbers in honour of his twins birth.Now, following Higuains arrival, Morata is close to joining Atletico Madrid on loan.

Friday, 25 January 2019 Chelsea's number nine shirt has been handed to new signing Gonzalo Higuain. The number has been cursed at Stamford Bridge with the likes of Alvaro Morata, Radamel Falcao and Fernando Torres failing to perform.
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