You’d think if a striker only managed to score five goals in 30 league appearances for Stoke City, they wouldn’t be anywhere special, right?
But Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has defied the odds, as he gets lined up for a remarkable Premier League redemption story, six years after a meek exit from England's top-flight in 2018.
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Choupo-Moting banged in 17 goals last season in all competitions for Bayern Munich, having enjoyed his richest vein of form since leaving Stoke for Paris Saint-Germain before joining the German champions in 2020.
However, this season, Choupo-Moting has been forced to make do with a substitute role following the arrival of Harry Kane.
The Cameroon international is now heading up a four-man shortlist for Manchester United as they look to fix their striker woes in January.
Rasmus Hojlund and Anthony Martial have scored just one Premier League goal each, but United's financial restraints mean the club need another low-cost loan up top to help.
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“He’s obviously got a fantastic agent”
The 34-year-old striker has come a long way since his time at the Britannia Stadium.
His former forward partner Peter Crouch previously praised his ‘fantastic agent’ for helping him get a ‘fitting’ move to France.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2020, Crouch said: “You could see in training that he was a player but it just didn’t happen for him as it should have done on a matchday.
“It was probably fitting that he ended up in Paris after Stoke. When he was around the dressing room resembled Paris Fashion Week. He used to wear some clobber that you needed some confidence to pull off.
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“Eric was a good lad and he’s obviously got a fantastic agent who has got him some fantastic opportunities.”
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The hero in Europe
Many were confused at the move to the Ligue 1 giants but he ended up proving himself on the biggest stage.
Four years ago, Choupo-Moting was the hero as he sent PSG to their first Champions League semi-final in 26 years.
He came off the bench to change the game, playing a big part in the equaliser before scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory against Atalanta.
Combining with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, he was able to fire in the only goal he scored for the club in Europe.
But what an important one it was!
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Botched international call-up
After making his move to Bayern in 2021, Choupo-Moting’s career had yet another incredible story but this time on the international stage.
Cameroon were facing Cape Verde and Rwanda in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the striker’s place in the squad was never in doubt.
However, he never received an invitation to join the team as the Cameroonian FA emailed themselves instead of their player!
His father would comment on the situation as he vented his disappointment.
He said: "For me, that's a lack of professionalism.
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"When sending invitations, be sure to send them to the correct address. If that doesn't happen, I don't understand why it's the club's or Maxim's fault."
Luckily, he was confirmed in the 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and despite Cameroon's group-stage exit, Choupo-Moting even got on the scoresheet in a 3–3 draw against Serbia.
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