Football can be a fickle game at times. One moment you’re the ‘next Ronaldo’, the name on everyone’s lips, and 12 months later you’re slugging it out in the reserves of a top European club quietly waiting for your chance to prove you have what it takes.

Not everyone can have the idyllic rise of someone like Harry Kane, where the stars align and allow a player to become an integral figure at the club they’ve been with since their early teens.

It can be difficult – barring the ridiculous salary – for a talented youngster to twiddle their thumbs on the bench as they hope and pray for even a few minutes on the other side of the white line.

There is a grey area in between confidence and arrogance and the only true denominator is whether you can back up what you say on the pitch (Balotelli, we’re looking at you mate) and some managers don’t believe that a young starlet possesses the necessary experience or composure to hack it with the best.

As Juventus secured their place in the Champions League final in Berlin against Barcelona on Wednesday night with a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, there was only one man to thank: Alvaro Morata – a man who had spent six years in Los Blancos’ youth system before being sold to Juventus last summer for £14.5 million.

So, we here at Squawka HQ decided to take a look at 10 top players who were never initially given the chance to shine but went on to prove their worth and then some.

Source: www.squawka.com
Photo Credit: Google images

Cc: lalasticlala

1. Alvaro Morata

As mentioned above, Morata was at the Santiago Bernabeu from 2008 to 2014 where he played for Real Madrid C, Real Madrid Castilla and finally made 37 appearances for the senior side scoring 10 goals in total.

However, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez all taking up space in the team’s attack the 22-year-old striker was packed off to Juventus, where he immediately picked up a bad knee injury. Smart move by Real it looked like? Wrong.

The Spain international scored two goals over the two Champions League semi-final legs against his former club to give Los Blancos little chance of lifting any silverware in 2015.

No celebration, though.

2. Paul Pogba

Pogba joined Man United in 2009 after a drawn out debacle with then-club Le Havre and it appeared as though Sir Alex Ferguson had landed one of the world’s future stars.

The France international was only 17 when he arrived in Manchester and was given time to acclimatise to his surroundings in the youth teams before Fergie said, ahead of the 2011/12 season: “I mean if we hold Pogba back, what’s going to happen? He’s going to leave. You know, in a couple of years’ time when his contract is going to finish.”

The legendary Scot wasn’t wrong as Pogba left in July 2012 and joined Juventus.

The 22-year-old has become a mainstay in the Old Lady’s starting line-up and is now one of the hottest prospects in European football with Chelsea, Real Madrid and – you guessed it – Man United after his signature (via the Daily Star).

3. Raul Gonzalez

Raul is the record goalscorer in Real Madrid’s history with 323 (though Cristiano isn’t far behind) but it could have all been a very different story had the club’s neighbours not made a monumental decision.

Atletico Madrid’s president at the time Jesus Gil decided to close the team’s academy as a cost-saving measure and the young Spaniard had no option but to join their rivals.

Raul rose through the youth ranks before, like Morata, finally getting the chance at senior level. He went on to make 550 appearances for Los Blancos and played 102 times for Spain.

Gil was never particularly popular will the fans of Atleti. Hard to imagine why…

4. Thiago Alcantara

Barcelona are normally hailed for their impressive attitude towards youngsters and their incredible La Masia academy but two years ago they let one of their most exciting prospects join former boss Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich.

In his last season at the Camp Nou, the young Spaniard only started 15 games and was desperate for regular football. He made the switch to the Bundesliga in 2013 for around £20million but injury has plagued his time in Germany so far.

However, since he has finally recovered from two knee problems, he has featured in all of Munich’s last six league matches. Nonetheless, there was no fairytale return to Catalonia for Thiago as Guardiola’s side were dumped out of the Champions League in the semi-final by Barca 5-3 on aggregate.

5. Samuel Eto’o

A Barcelona great by all accounts but Eto’o’s story certainly didn’t look like it was heading that way when he first arrived on the Spanish coast from Cameroon back in 1996.

The 34-year-old striker joined Real Madrid and spent four years in the capital but only managed three appearances as he was sent on loan to Leganes, Espanyol and Mallorca.

Eto’o eventually joined the latter on a permanent basis and spent four years there before signing with the Catalan giants. He won three La Liga titles and two Champions League at the Camp Nou and must have been a thorn in the side for Real Madrid fans every time El Clasico took centre stage.

6. Gerard Pique

Man United poached a 17-year-old Pique from Barcelona for no fee – as he had not signed a professional contract with the Catalan side – and many believed he could grow into one of the best defenders in European football.

However, with Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at the heart of the Red Devils’ defence, it was never going to be a simple way to the top for the Spain international. Even the likes of John O’Shea were being picked ahead of him for much of his time at Old Trafford.

After three seasons in Manchester and 12 appearances, along with a loan spell at Zaragoza, Pique returned to Barcelona for a £5m fee.

Since then Pique has been named in FIFPro’s Team of the Year on three occasions. Louis van Gaal could certainly do with the 28-year-old centre-back to shore up his defence at the moment.

7. Daniel Sturridge

Injuries have hindered Sturridge this season but, on his day, he is one of the best strikers in the country at the moment.

However, it was not always that simple for the England international. Sturridge began his professional playing career at Man City, where he made a handful of appearances over three years. Unsatisfied with his game time, though, the young striker decided not to renew his contract with the Citizens and joined Chelsea in 2009.

At this point the Blues had both Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba, which for Sturridge meant he was often forced to play out wide rather than his preferred central role. Four years at Stamford Bridge came and went as the 25-year-old managed just 13 goals in 63 appearances and he left to link up with Brendan Rodgers – a man who had coached him as part of Chelsea’s youth set-up.
Since his arrival at Anfield, Sturridge has bagged 35 goals in 55 matches. A tasty return indeed and, if he can stay fit, Chelsea and Man City fans would certainly welcome him back in a heartbeat.

8. Thierry Henry

“Henry, one of the greatest Premier League strikers, he can’t be in this list! Surely not…” I hear you all clamouring.

However, the great France international was not a worldwide success before he arrived at Highbury alongside Arsene Wenger.

Henry was very much a winger before arriving on these shores. In 105 appearances for Monaco – who Wenger was managing – he managed 20 goals and Juventus snapped him up for around £10 million in 1999. His time in Turin was short-lived, though, and the Frenchman once again linked up with Le Professeur, this time at Arsenal, after only six months in Serie A.

Henry went on to score 174 goals for the north London outfit in 254 games, an impressive ratio, and won the Golden Boot on no less than four occasions.

Juve must be kicking themselves…

9. Mats Hummels

It’s hard to see Hummels in anything other than the famous yellow and black of Borussia Dortmund but his career could have painted a very different picture had things gone another route.

The Dortmund captain arrived at arch-rivals Bayern Munich at the young age of six and rose through the ranks until he made his debut in 2007.

Nonetheless, that was the only match Hummels ever played for Bayern and, after a season-long loan at BVB, he joined the club on a permanent basis.

Whilst Bayern have gone from strength to strength in recent years it must have been sweet for Hummels to pip his former club to the Bundesliga title in 2010/11 and 2011/12 with Jurgen Klopp.

A World Cup winner and a man perennially linked with a move to Man United (via Daily Star), Hummels would have certainly a rock in the Munich defence and fan favourite had they kept him.

10. Franck Ribery

Ribery hasn’t had it easy. At the age of just two years old the France international was involved in a car crash that resulted in him needing 100 stitches to his face.

His football career wasn’t particularly simple either. Ribery arrived at Lille as a 13-year-old but was released after just three seasons with the French outfit due to ‘behavioural problems’ and went on to play for five clubs after that, including Galatasaray, before making his name at Marseille.

Bayern Munich then signed the pacey winger for around £18m in 2007 and he has become one of the best wide players in the game.

Ribery revealed in 2012 that Lille had initially wanted to release him from their academy because he was “too small”.

You’ve shown them, Franck.

Juve must be kicking themselves,.....

OmolodMilkman93:
Juve must be kicking themselves,.....

He was a great player.

i feel for ribery oo ,

Pogba can go to hell, united will sign good players like Bale, hummels, and Depay(that guy iz good)

united is about to get deadly

Klopp:
i feel for ribery oo ,

Pogba can go to hell, united will sign good players like Bale, hummels, and Depay(that guy iz good)

united is about to get deadly

You vexed bro?

Klopp:
i feel for ribery oo ,

Pogba can go to hell, united will sign good players like Bale, hummels, and Depay(that guy iz good)

united is about to get deadly

Do you know how much Juve is going to make outta Pogba if he leaves this summer? That's dough Man Utd should be making.

Ever wondered why Man Utd is after his signature again?

Chelsea nearly made that same mistake with Matic. Now see who is Chelsea's backbone today.

Etoo's jersey for that pics b like agbada. SAF rily bleeped up in Pogba's case