Jhon Duran's Dramatic Career Decline Detailed

Less than two years ago, Jhon Duran was heralded as one of the Premier League's most exciting young talents. Now, at 22, the Colombian striker has seen his career trajectory plummet, marked by a significant transfer to Saudi Arabia and subsequent loan spells across Europe, with a former teammate describing him as unmotivated by anything other than wealth.

Duran's fortunes took a sharp turn after a strong first half of the 2024-25 season with Aston Villa, where he scored seven league goals. This performance led to a £71 million transfer to Saudi club Al Nassr on deadline day. However, his time since leaving England has been tumultuous. He is currently on loan at Benfica, marking his fourth club since departing the Premier League and the seventh of his career.

Former Manchester United midfielder Fred, who played with Duran at Fenerbahce during one of his loan spells away from Al Nassr, offered a stark assessment of the striker's attitude. In a podcast appearance, Fred recounted conversations where Duran allegedly stated he was already "rich" and had no need to train or run, even claiming he had "already saved the lives of me, my family, and three generations." Fred also noted that Duran's motivation waned, saying, "At Fenerbahce, at least in the beginning he was showing up for training, then he completely quit."

Duran's former coach at Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho, had also publicly criticized the player's behavior, citing issues with punctuality and adherence to team rules. "There are clear rules here, and those who do not comply with them will face consequences," Mourinho had stated.

Following his initial move to Al Nassr, Duran was loaned to Zenit St Petersburg in February. His stint there was brief, yielding only one goal in six league appearances before the club announced a mutual agreement for a leave of absence due to personal circumstances. That leave of absence became permanent, and Duran moved to Benfica in July. While he scored in Europa League qualifying, his goal tally for Benfica has remained low.

Duran's career highlights at Aston Villa included winning Premier League goal of the month for a long-range strike against Everton, scoring a Champions League winner against Bayern Munich, and earning Aston Villa's player of the month award. At the time, he was reportedly a target for clubs like Chelsea and West Ham.

Even during his time at Villa, there were hints of his challenging disposition. Villa captain John McGinn described him as "a nightmare sometimes to have in your team," while acknowledging his moments of quality. Coach Unai Emery also noted Duran's potential but emphasized his need to learn and develop professionally.

Now at his fifth club in 18 months, Duran appears to be a shadow of the player who once impressed in the Premier League. His contract with Al Nassr runs until 2030, and while he has time on his side at 22, his current form and reported attitude raise questions about whether he can recapture his earlier potential.