5 most wasted football talents in the world
The Football world is filled with a lot of talents but there were some players who were seen as a possible prospects but failed to live up to expectations at the end of the day.
Here are top 5 biggest waste of talent in the football world:
1. Mario Balotelli
An Italian journalist once described Mario Balotelli’s career, saying “The strange thing about Balotelli is that champagne corks are popped when he arrives but also when he leaves.” The Italian’s talent is without question, as managers of the calibre of Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini and Cesare Prandelli have tried but failed to harness Balotelli’s skills. Steven Gerrard even went so far as to say that Balotelli was a ‘spectacular waste of talent’, highlighting how Balotelli plays for the Italian shirt with pride and endeavour while barely strutting about in the Liverpool jersey.
An Italian journalist once described Mario Balotelli’s career, saying “The strange thing about Balotelli is that champagne corks are popped when he arrives but also when he leaves.” The Italian’s talent is without question, as managers of the calibre of Jose Mourinho, Roberto Mancini and Cesare Prandelli have tried but failed to harness Balotelli’s skills. Steven Gerrard even went so far as to say that Balotelli was a ‘spectacular waste of talent’, highlighting how Balotelli plays for the Italian shirt with pride and endeavour while barely strutting about in the Liverpool jersey.
Balotelli’s off-field antics are well known, although clubs the limelight with his social media posts, often stirring up a hornet’s nest with his comments. The Italian was described as ‘unmanageable’ by Jose Mourinho while Jurgen Klopp also allowed him to leave Liverpool. A rather tragic state for a player once considered the best talent in football after Messi and Ronaldo.
2. Ricardo Quaresma
While a youthful Cristiano Ronaldo was making a name for himself at Manchester United, there was another incredibly talented Portuguese youngster who had made the jump from Sporting Lisbon to Barcelona. Complete with an array of dazzling skills, including the rabona and a trademark trivela in his repetoire, an 18-yr-old Quaresma had the world at his feet.
While a youthful Cristiano Ronaldo was making a name for himself at Manchester United, there was another incredibly talented Portuguese youngster who had made the jump from Sporting Lisbon to Barcelona. Complete with an array of dazzling skills, including the rabona and a trademark trivela in his repetoire, an 18-yr-old Quaresma had the world at his feet.
However, lackluster performances coupled with a spat with manager Frank Rijkaard meant that Quaresma handed in a transfer request and returned to Portugal, this time with FC Porto. Despite some sterling performances, the streak of selfishness in Quaresma’s play hindered his career, with teammates often being critical on the pitch. The streak continued when he signed for jose Mourinho-led Inter Milan, displeasing the former Chelsea boss, who said “He is a great talent, but the joy I have at seeing the way Ibrahimovic works for and with the team I do not yet have with Quaresma. He will have to learn, otherwise he won’t play.” He was voted the worst player in Serie A in 2008, also known as the Bibone d’Oro award.
Quaresma began a journeyman career across Europe, playing for Chelsea and Al Ahli before finally ending up in the Turkish Super Lig at Besiktas. A rather poor return for someone once considered the heir to Luis Figo.
3. Adriano
Christened L’Imperatore (The Emperor) by Inter Milan fans, little did the world of football know the staggering collapse that would befall Adriano’s career. The tall, powerful striker was blessed with incredible control and dribbling skills, which when added to his powerful left foot, often left opposition defences and goalkeepers bamboozled.
Christened L’Imperatore (The Emperor) by Inter Milan fans, little did the world of football know the staggering collapse that would befall Adriano’s career. The tall, powerful striker was blessed with incredible control and dribbling skills, which when added to his powerful left foot, often left opposition defences and goalkeepers bamboozled.
His scintillating form made him the toast of Italian football in the 2004/05 season, a far cry from the poverty of the favelas of Rio de Janeiro that he grew up in. However, the death of his inspirational father, Almir, in late 2004 started a tragic downward spiral, with Adriano admitting as much, saying ““My dad always supported me. He liked to watch me play.”
“Without him I started to drown all my problems in alcohol. I was drinking heavily and couldn’t not go out.”
Inter persisted with the Brazilian, but after a couple of loan spells, with weight and discipline issues popping up with regularity, Adriano tore up his contract in 2009, ‘quitting football’. However, he signed with childhood club Flamengo, and later with Roma, Corinthians and Miami United, all clubs that have struggled to keep the striker’s problems at bay. The Emperor has fallen.
4. Anderson
“If I want to I can be a great player.” When Anderson uttered these words in 2011, there was still hope for his floundering career in Manchester United. The Brazilian came to Manchester United with huge promise, winner of the Golden Ball in the FIFA U-17 World Cups, and then winner of the Golden Boy award for the most promising youngster in 2008.
“He was clearly the best player, but there were times when he just stood around.” – This description of Anderson’s performances in the U-17 World Cup ought to have been fair warning to the Manchester United faithful, but they didn’t care, christening the heir apparent to Paul Scholes with a chant that considered him better than Cesc Fabregas.
That everyone, even Sir Alex Ferguson had been hoodwinked by the Brazilian’s talent soon became apparent. Rumours of his large appetite and unintelligence leaked from former Unted stars such as Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown as they left the dressing room. Ultimately, after 8 seasons and 181 games, Anderson left the Red Devils, scoring a paltry 9 goals. He is now a senior player and repeated those very inconsistencies at Brazilian club Internacional, a poor return for a player who once had the world at his feet.
5. Giovani dos Santos
Giovani dos Santos left his native Mexico for Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 11. Coming through the ranks alongside Lionel Messi, the Mexican’s style of play resembled Ronaldinho more than the Argentine, thus leading many to consider him a talent who would shape the world of football to come.
Giovani dos Santos left his native Mexico for Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 11. Coming through the ranks alongside Lionel Messi, the Mexican’s style of play resembled Ronaldinho more than the Argentine, thus leading many to consider him a talent who would shape the world of football to come.
As things turned out, Dos Santos left Barcelona on a high, scoring a hat-trick in his last La Liga game, but was tempted by the regularity of first-team football being offered at Tottenham Hotspur. However, a predilection for the party lifestyle upended his Lilywhite career, with Harry Redknapp saying “If he could pass a nightclub as well as he could pass a ball, he would be alright.”
“He’s got bags of ability and fantastic skill. Suddenly he was late on Monday morning – upset stomach. He’d probably been in Barcelona, partying somewhere.”
A series of loan spells at Ipswich Town, Galatasaray and Racing Santander ended with a permanent transfer from Spurs to RCD Mallorca in 2012. There were brief glimpses of a resurrection in La Liga with Mallorca and Villarreal, but the Mexican opted for a move closer to his homeland, signing for MLS side LA Galaxy. A rather large fall from grace for someone once considered the peer of Messi and Ronaldinho.
Name any other player that should be on this list. Your suggestions and comments are warmly welcome.
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