Godwin Nii-Armah Okine Writes – THE LOVE OF MONEY: Asamoah Gyan Has Made Himself A Ton Of Money – But Would Globally Never Be Spoken Of In The Same Breath As Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien Or Abedi Pele

Ghana’s captain Asamoah Gyan has found himself the subject of intense mockery on a global scale after failing what is a very routine procedure for every football player, the medical check-ups.
Gyan was close to a one year loan deal to Reading FC from Chinese Superlig side Shanghai SIPG, but the move fell through at the last minute because Gyan was found to be unfit, with club sources intimating he needed eight weeks to get back to full fitness – a duration that is an eternity in the rough and tumble world of the English second tier.
The medical is usually the easiest part of a transfer, as a football player is usually expected to be fit enough to play, you know, football. Medicals only fall through when an hitherto unknown condition is picked up, or a penchant for injury that might reappear is discovered. Failing one for simply being unfit is rare and shows a level of indolence not to be tolerated at the highest level. To say this humiliates Gyan would be an understatement.
In light of his condition, Reading decided to pass on the 30 year old, bringing him full circle to the consequences of a decision he took way back in 2011 when he ditched Sunderland for the big cash on offer at Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
Gyan, at the time, was on top of the world. After formative years in Ghana, France and Italy, he had finally arrived at the world stage, playing in front of adoring fans week in week out and on television all across the globe. His energy and exuberance made him a fan favourite, and his yeoman’s job as a lone frontman, even if not always translated into goals, was massively appreciated by both his manager, teammates and the fans.
Gyan could have spent a couple more years on Wearside, building up his legend, then probably earn himself a move to a side who consistently finish a tad higher than the Black Cats. Andre Ayew only needed a year at Swansea to prove his qualities to the extent that West Ham broke their transfer record to bring him to London – and he’s now one of the most recognisable Ghanaian players in the world.
Gyan, instead, followed the money, and left for Abu Dhabi when Al-Ain came calling in 2012, at the ripe old age of 26. At the time the huge debate was over whether he was justified in leaving competitive football week in week out for the massively quality free UAE league – and the answer always lay in whether you valued legacy over liquidity.
Gyan landed his move, and made himself a sh*t ton of money, but he would never be as well respected or revered on the global stage as Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah or Abedi Pele. Pele is a phenomenon no doubt, but Stephen Appiah had a moderately successful career in Europe whose best leg was in Turkey, but he would still be much more regarded by neutrals than Gyan. Essien spent years tearing up the English Premier League, and became known as the best defensive midfielder in the world. Whilst he made a sh*t ton of money himself too (not as much as Gyan) – he also earned the respect of the watching audience, colleagues and pundits all across the world.
Gyan would be remembered for a stellar international career and a well noted penchant for philanthropy, but in real football circles, he would be a nauseating pariah. Leaving for the Emirates as a 26 year old to simply chase money and failing a medical for being unfit at age 30 would always cast a dark shadow over whatever else he has achieved. They say money is the root of all evil, and whilst that’s wildly hyperbolic, in some instances it can be.
This only matters, though, if you’re worried about your legacy at the top. Perhaps Gyan never wants to be remembered in the annals of the top leagues in the world. That’s his prerogative, and since he made more money than the average person can make in a thousand lifetimes due to his choice, perhaps it was a fair trade. The real shame is that he could have had both, but greed made him opt for only one via the quickest route.