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Whenever a football manager delves into the transfer market and looks abroad, there is always an element of risk involved.

Sometimes, as with soon to be departing Michu, they get it absolutely right.

Indeed, Swansea's Spanish star will go down as one of the greatest foreign imports Welsh football has ever seen after his sparkling first season saw him become a household name across Europe.

However, far from always hitting the bullseye, Swansea City and Cardiff City managers have got it horribly wrong on more than one occasion over the years.

Here, as Michu prepares to say goodbye to Welsh football, we look back at some of the disastrous foreign signings that left fans shaking their heads in disbelief.

Take a look at the pictures below to bring back some unwanted memories...

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More on Swansea City's foreign shockers

Matthias Verschave & Nicolas Fabiano

John Hollins went overseas in hope to boost survival hopes in the third-tier, signing French pair Verschave and Fabiano on loan from PSG. They both made their debuts in a FAW Premier Cup game against Connah's Quay, Verschave scoring an injury-time winner - but that was pretty much as good as it got. They made their contributions - Verschave scoring once in the league in 12 outings and Fabiano playing 16 times as the side went down - but they were gone at the end of their loan deals, their names never to resurface.

Nichoas Mazzina

Became Hollins' second summer signing when the Argetinean midfielder arrived at the Vetch in the summer of 2001. Having started out at Boca Juniors, Mazzina was left needing to impress in trial games against Carmarthen and Barry which he did, leaving the second tier of his homeland behind. Four months and three games later he was off, culled by Tony Petty and trying his luck in Scotland before signing for York and then returning to South America.

David Romo

While Giovanni Savarese's signing in 2000 was one of Swansea's best overseas additions, the man who arrived at the same time wasn't quite of the same standard. Romo had played youth football with Nicolas Anelka and Louis Saha in his French homeland and actually made the French Olympic squad during his time at the Vetch. Had some ability but never really up to the British game and while he managed 38 appearances in a relegated team, he demanded a transfer request when he was left out under Colin Addison and was soon off.

Itay Shechter (Swansea, September, 2012):

Signed on loan from Kaiserslautern, Swans fans still refer to his only goal in 18 months of football as an 'I was there moment'. Went an incredible 856 minutes without scoring for club and country before leaving

Jordi Lopez (Swansea, July 2009 from QPR):

Signed a two-year deal on a free as new boss Paulo Sousa's headline arrival. Foolishly, fans thought he would be the new Jordi Gomez just because they shared a name. Dreadful displays, including a pathetic showing at Preston.

Sylvain Meslien (Swansea, November 2006 from Troyes):

Former St Etienne youngster, made his debut at Darlington and promptly subbed after half hour to stop him from being sent-off. Incredibly, the left-back was given a further month's contract to impress. He didn't, he left.

Fede Bessone (Swansea, June 2008 from Espanyol):

A former teammate of Lionel Messi in the Barcelona youth ranks, the Argentine full-back clearly saw none of his compatriot's talent rub off. Got a run under Sousa but probably best remembered for trying to rugby tackle Wayne Routledge in the derby.

Alberto Serran (Swansea, July 2008 from Espanyol):

After Angel Rangel's success, Swansea hoped more another Spanish hit with centre-half Serran. Never trusted for a run in the side, the £80k signing hung around long enough to be in squad that won play-off final, but was shipped off to Larnaca days later.

Cedric van der Gun (Swansea, September 2009 from FC Utrecht):

Signed on a free as Swansea looked for attacking options under Sousa but quickly established he was a winger who had neither pace or the ability to beat a man. Released without a fuss the next season.

Jose Moreira (Swansea, July 2011 from Benfica):

A panicked search for a keeper saw Moreria arrive for a fee that ranged between a couple of grand to a £1m, depending on who you believed. Never got to be first choice as Michel Vorm arrived. Given his display in his one appearance at Shrewsbury, Swansea will be glad to have gone Dutch.

Fede Bessone (Swansea, August 2011 from Leeds):

So bad they signed him twice, Bessone had gone off to Leeds after snubbing a new contract under Sousa. Then Rodgers bizarrely turned to him after a deadline day crisis. It says much Leeds were happy to see him go.

Rafik Halliche (Swansea, August 2011 from Fulham):

As part of that deadline day disaster, Algeria international Halliche was supposed to arrive after just one appearance at Craven Cottage following a £1.3m move. Fifa refused to grant clearance and fact was sent back from Celtic after one week of a loan suggests Swansea got lucky.

Vangelis Moras (Swansea, September 2011):

A Greek tragedy of a transfer. Snapped up on a free, three-month deal after the Halliche hiccup, Moras made one four minute appearance to try and hold onto a 2-1 lead at Wolves. The game finished 2-2 and Moras was not seen again.

Alvaro Vazquez (Swansea, September, 2013):

Another loan signing, this time from Getafe,the Spanish youngster was supposed to provide Michael Laudrup with a top-class striking option. Unfortunately, Vazquez appeared worse with every match.

Cardiff City's foreign shockers

Zhiyi Fan (China) (2002/03)

He became the first ever Chinese player to wear the Cardiff shirt and after witnessing him in action Bluebirds fans were left hoping he might be the last.

Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu (Congo) (2006)

His name is one of the highest scores you can get in Scrabble. The striker failed to find the net for the Bluebirds although after just 11 appearances he did find the exit.

Peter Zois (Australia) ((1997/980)

The goalkeeper was only brought in as cover, he had just one job to do, keep out Rotherham. He failed and was gone the next day. Legend indeed.

Iwan Redan (Holland) (2006/7)

A striker who cannot shoot is like an elephant without a trunk, pretty useless. The deal to sign Redan was done in Amsterdam, probably in a coffee shop.

Eddie Johnson (USA) (2008/09)

Two goals in 30 games said its own sad story for the extremely likeable striker. He scored the last ever goal under the floodlights at Ninian Park which made a change because his shots usually hit the floodlights.

Miguel Comminges (France) (2008/09)

The guy was a Guadeloupe international, but, hey, who amongst us hasn’t been one of those? He started ten games for the Bluebirds during his time at the club, but no one ever got too excited.

Etien Velikonja (Slovenia) (2012/13)

Rumour has it Malky Mackay did not want the striker, but Vincent Tan signed him anyway. It was a decision that went as well as the day Tan said: “Hey, I’ve got a great idea for the new kit!”

Andrea Ferretti (Italy) (2005/06)

Now Italy has produced some amazing strikers down the years, but this guy was not one of them. He came on the reccomendation of Sir Alex Ferguson, but so did David Moyes.

Luigi Glombard (France) (2006/7)

You can never forget it, Glombard’s brilliant ball through to Robert Earnshaw at Carrow Road. Brilliant apart from the fact ‘Earnie’ was playing for Norwich at the time.

Dimitrios Konstantopoulos (Greece) (2008-9)

You had to love this guy, but only if your side was playing against Cardiff. The man known as ‘Agent Dimi’ managed to throw the ball into his own net at Wolves. Twice!

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Holland) (2008/09)

The winger was a Ghanian international, but during his five appearance for Cardiff he really looked as if he had just come in following a spell at Roath Park Rangers.

Jörn Schwinkendorf (Germany) (1999-00)

He stood at 6ft 5ins, but when he jumped to head the ball that somehow decreased to 3ft 2ins. Put it this way, when the highlight of your time at a club is once hitting the post, you know things are bad.

Winston Faerber (Suriname) (1999-00)

The Dutch-based wing-back seemed to have everything that was needed to prove a success at Cardiff, but the big problem was he just failed to settle at the club.

Peter Enckelman (Finland) (2009-10)

When he arrived from Blackburn we were told Enckelman was prone to errors. We thought that was all behind him, then we went to Wembley for the FA Cup final and we found out we were wrong.

Mirko Bolesan (Italy) (1995)

He only played one game on loan at Cardiff, but many now regard him as the worst player ever to turn out for the club. Take a moment to imagine how bad he must actually have been.

Toni Koskela (Finland) (2005-06)

The well-built midfielder spent a year with the Bluebirds, but not much of that actually on the pitch. He made three appearances, all from the bench, although one of those was at Arsenal in the FA Cup. Cardiff still lost.

Jeff Whitley (Zambia) (2005-07)

On his day the combative midfielder certainly put in a shift for the Bluebirds, but he saw his time blighted by drink and drug problems for which he eventually sought successful treatment.

Solomon Taiwo (Nigeria) ( 2009-12)

Had a stormer for Dagenham & Redbridge against Cardiff and then signed a three year deal with the Bluebirds. Look, put it this way, the guy should have stayed at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Kyle Lightbourne (Bermuda) (2001)

The striker was brought in on loan as cover for Gavin Gordon. Yes, you heard that right. Quite how the cover could turn out to be worse than Gordon himself remains a mystery.

Kerim Frei (Austria) (2012)

Born in Austria, the wideman played for Switzerland then swapped to Turkey. His time at Cardiff was a ‘blink and you miss it’ affair as after just three appearances he was called back off loan by Fulham.

Andreas Cornelius (Denmark) (2013-14)

When we are old and grey we will be able to sit our little grandson on our knee and say: “I saw Cornelius play for Cardiff my boy. And yes, he did cost £8m and, yes, he was rubbish.”

Peter Odemwingie (Nigeria) (2013-14)

Scored goals before he signed for Cardiff and scored goals after, it’s just the bit in between that which was the problem. He appeared at the World Cup this summer, but his form whilst with the Bluebirds never rose above the deeply average.