The Bluebird who couldn’t score hits seven in one half!
ANDREAS Cornelius, perhaps the most infamous flop in Cardiff City history, began his new career in Italy in sensational style by smashing seven goals in one half for new club Atalanta.
Cornelius didn’t muster a single goal for the Bluebirds after being signed in an eye-opening £7.5million deal by Malky Mackay.
But at 24 years of age he is hoping to prove a hit in Italian football after clinching a £3m move from FC Copenhagen.
Cornelius came on as a secondhalf substitute during Atalanta’s pre-season friendly against Swiss side FC Steinach – and hit the target seven times as his side triumphed 18-0.
Of course, things will be rather different when Atalanta kick off their Serie A campaign with a clash against last season’s runners-up Roma in mid-August.
However, Cornelius is already making his mark at his new club, having joined in May.
He has also been on target in other pre-season matches and seven goals in one match is no mean feat for any striker, no matter what the standard of opposition.
Shame Cornelius couldn’t even bag one for the Bluebirds. He was signed by Mackay for a club record fee after promotion to the Premier League, but questions were raised about whether Cornelius would prove value for money.
As it was, he barely featured for the Bluebirds and was sent packing back to Danish football after just six months.
Mackay had high hopes of Cornelius, but the big Dane didn’t start a Premier League match and had to make do with extremely brief cameo appearances as a substitute against Manchester City, Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Sunderland and West Ham.
He did get one second-half of Premier League action, replacing Peter Odemwingie during a Boxing Day clash with Southampton. However, Cornelius couldn’t net once, let alone seven times, as Cardiff crashed to a 3-0 defeat in what proved to be Mackay’s last match in charge.
Even in cup competitions his game time was limited, playing for 45 minutes against Accrington Stanley, 60 minutes versus Newcastle and a further 45 minutes again against Bolton in what was his own final game in Wales.
At least he started those matches, unlike in the Premier League campaign.
It means Cornelius will always be viewed here as an expensive flop, but he netted 15 times for FC Copenhagen last season which prompted Atalanta’s swoop.