Sadly, there have been loads of footballers who burst onto the scene in sublime fashion, but are kicked off the stage due to their own problems. In the list below, I name five 'star' players who wasted their talents.
Carlos Alberto
Remember Benni McCarthy's former teammate? I can't blame you if you don't, but this attacking midfielder started and scored in the 2004 UEFA Champions League final for Porto. Despite Jose Mourinho's reluctance to field youngsters back then, the Portuguese boss showed great belief in Alberto's ability. The now 30-year-old is playing for Figueirense in Brazil and out of the spotlight.
Juan Sebastian Veron
The Argentine was adored by Manchester United's fans, however, it wasn't rewarded. Veron failed to prove successful at Old Trafford before Chelsea came knocking. It was the same story at Stamford Bridge, as Veron failed to adapt to the English game. His brilliant elegance was there for all to see, but his performances didn't reflect his talent.
Javier Saviola
If I had to compare Saviola with current stars, I'd say that he was the Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero of the early 2000's. The forward came through the ranks at River Plate with Pablo Aimar, and was set to be the next big thing. He was small, quick, powerful, and could finish from anywhere. He was once on the books of both Real Madrid and Barcelona, but for unknown reasons, he never fulfilled the potential of what was seemed almost destined to be a great career.
Ricardo Quaresma
The Portuguese winger was like Cristiano Ronaldo, before Ronaldo was even Ronaldo! He showcased skill of a different class whenever he wanted to, but he never had the drive. With a CV that includes clubs like Barca, Inter Milan and Chelsea, you'd swear he was a star, but Quaresma failed to live up to all the hype.
Adriano
For me – this player was by far the biggest disappointment. I have clear memories of how Adriano used to terrorise defenders in the Serie A with Inter Milan, and before I knew it, he had disappeared off the face of the earth. A record of 74 goals for Inter Milan in 175 games doesn't sound all that bad, does it? But at 33-years-old now, there should have hundreds more. He had strength, pace, and a rocket left-foot, but due to his reported bad attitude, he never worked hard enough to stay at the top. And as many Brazilians have done before – he fell from grace. Lastly, let's not forget about his 29 goals from 52 games for his country.
Can you name any players who you believe simply wasted their talents?
