With the 2017/18 Serie A season now over, we take a look at who is our flop of the season.

FLOP OF THE SEASON

ANDRE SILVA (AC MILAN)

You could almost take your pick from the largely erroneous €210m (Dh908.4m) summer spend from AC Milan.

But while several initial flops – such as Leonardo Bonucci and Hakan Calhanoglu – improved under Gennaro Gattuso, Portugal prospect Silva remained a dud.

Much was expected after €38m (Dh164.4m) was required to wrestle him from Porto. For only two Serie A goals in 24 run-outs to follow was a huge disappointment. Admittedly, this miserly output is boosted somewhat by his eight goals from the Europa League.

The 22-year-old striker has the World Cup to rehabilitate his image. If he isn’t flogged to agent Jorge Mendes’ Portuguese enclave at Wolverhampton Wanderers, the only way is up at the Rossoneri.

WORTHY MENTIONS

Nikola Kalinic (AC Milan)

The AC Milan fans wanted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, then of Borussia Dortmund. Instead, they got the Croatia striker on loan from Fiorentina with a €25m (Dh108.2m) obligation to buy after centre-back Leonardo Bonucci surprisingly was made available at Juventus.

Kalinic looked a shadow of the player who’d made it into the teens in both of his previous campaigns. His six goals from 31 matches is a major reason why the Champions League was missed.

Alessio Cerci (Hellas Verona)

The downwards spiral continues for a 30-year-old forward who once threatened to thrill Italy fans for years to come.

After being rescued from anonymity at Atletico Madrid, Cerci repaid the relegation-bound Gialloblu with three goals and two assists in 24 forgettable matches.

Lyanco (Torino)

Great expectations met the capture of the promising Brazil youth international last summer.

But a combination of teething problems and a serious foot injury restricted the 21-year-old centre-back to just four Serie A appearances. Let’s hope much more is to come in 2018/19.