Jhon Duran’s situation is really unfortunate. His talent isn’t being used, and Fred has pointed out the tough truth.
In a recent podcast, former Manchester United and Fenerbahce midfielder Fred was asked about the craziest player he’s ever played with. He didn’t hesitate to answer.
“Jhon Duran didn’t care about much,” Fred said on the Charla Podcast. “I’d say, ‘Come on Duran, let’s train, let’s run a bit.’ He’d reply, ‘Bro, I’m already rich. I don’t need to run,’ then he’d just go to the medical staff and take it easy.”
This might sound surprising, but many people aren’t shocked. It sums up the short, wild career of Duran—a player who always divides opinions at every club he joins.
Fred kept going: “When he moved to Zenit [Saint Petersburg], I said, ‘Wow, now you’re gonna make even more money.’ He said, ‘The more money, the better, the more the better.’ Sometimes he even said, ‘I’ve already saved the lives of me, my family, and three generations.’”
It’s important to say Fred described Duran as fun and good-hearted. It wasn’t all negative. Still, it’s sad to see such a talented striker not living up to his full potential.
Duran has shown flashes of brilliance, especially in his early days at Aston Villa. At the start of the 2024-25 season, he scored six goals in Villa’s first nine games, even though he started only once.
Unai Emery once called him a player with “massive” potential whose limits were “impossible to predict.” Looking back, that feels true given how unpredictable he has been—a player John McGinn once said was “a bit nuts.”
One of the most surprising moves in his career happened in January 2025. After rumors about a possible transfer to Chelsea, Duran joined Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League as their second most expensive signing ever.
He signed a five-and-a-half-year deal worth €245,000 per week, according to Capology. Soon after moving to Saudi Arabia, he posted a picture on Instagram riding a three-wheeled bike with the caption: “Don’t try to please everybody – that ain’t good.”
Of course, the big paycheck gives Duran and his family financial security for years. But it’s still disappointing to see such huge talent not being used to its fullest.
After scoring 12 goals in 18 games for Al Nassr, Duran was loaned to Turkish club Fenerbahce. You’d think a coach like Jose Mourinho could handle him well.
But the striker reportedly clashed with Mourinho after arriving late to the preseason training in Portugal. Duran canceled his loan with Fenerbahce and soon moved to Zenit Saint Petersburg, the sixth club of his career. Sadly, things didn’t go well in Russia, and he only played nine games before leaving.
After scoring just one goal in six league appearances for Zenit, the 22-year-old—still under contract with Al Nassr—is now hoping to restart his career at Benfica. The Portuguese club paid a £5.19 million loan fee for Duran and have an option to buy him permanently for £25.5 million.