Robinho, Pato, Drenthe, Jesé... the ones who got away
There have been many false dawns in football down the years. We take a look at some of those stars of the future who fell by the wayside.
Stunning outfits catch the eye on SI red carpet
Freddy Adu
One described as the next Pelé, Adu was touted as the brightest talent the US had ever produced. However, after moving to Portugal he became a journeyman and never lived up to that promise.
Foto: Rafael Suanes / MLS via Getty Images
Alexandre Pato
When he arrived at Milan Pato had a couple of decent seasons before gradually fading away and returning to Brazil via China.
Foto: Claudio Villa / Getty Images
Robinho
Supposedly the new Ronaldo / Ronaldinho / Zico, Robinho's famous noctural habits hampered his Real Madrid career. He went on to move to Manchester City and Milan before winding up at İstanbul Başakşehir.
Foto: JUAN MEDINA / REUTERS
Javier Portillo
Considered the natural successor to Raúl González Blanco, Portillo never quite cut it at Madrid and after loans at Fiorentina and Brugge he slipped down the Spanish leagues with Gimnàstic, Osasuna and Hércules.
Foto: Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
Michael Johnson
The next big thing in Englsih football when he burst onto the scene at Manchester City, his career was cut short by a series of injuries.
Foto: Clive Brunskill / Getty Images
Yoann Gourcuff
Nicknamed "Little Zizou" when he moved from Rennes to Milan, Gourcuff never quite managed to reach his full potential despite some wonderful one-off performances. After Italy, he passed through Bordeaux, Lyon, Rennes againa and Dijon and is currently a fr
Foto: Shaun Botterill / Getty Images
Royston Drenthe
After emerging out of the Feyenoord academy and signing for Real Madrid great things were expected of Drenthe, who went on to play for Hércules, Everton, Alania Vladikavkaz, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Kayseri Erciyesspor and Baniyas before finding a la
Foto: PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP
Sebastian Giovinco
Dubbed the "atomic ant", Giovinco started out at Juve as a bright hope for Italian football but was hampered by injuries. A successful spell in MLS with Toronto followed before he moved to Al-Hilal this summer.
Foto: Valerio Pennicino / Getty Images
Jesé Rodríguez
Under Carlo Ancelotti Jesé briefly touched the heights and would have made Spain's 2014 World Cup squad were it not for a knee injury. He was never the same player again and after a disastrous move to PSG he spent spells on loan with Las Palmas, Stoke and
Foto: Aurelien Meunier / Getty Images
Federico Macheda
The, ahem, "new Cristiano Ronaldo" never quite reached the level of his countryman and now plies his trade at Novara Calcio in Serie C.
Foto: Matthew Peters / Man Utd via Getty Images
Ravel Morrison
The footballer with nine lives and undoubted skill started out at Manchester United in 2010 before passing through West Ham, Birmingham, QPR, Cardiff, Lazio, QPR again, Atlas and Östersund before rocking up at Sheffield United this summer.
Foto: John Peters / Man Utd via Getty Images
Ganso
A peer of Neymar at Santos, Ganso never quite delivered on his abilty and after ill-fated spells at Sevilla and Amiens he returned to Brazil with Fluminense.
Foto: CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP
El Shaarawy
After making his debut at Genoa aged 16, El Shaarawy moved to Milan before finding his place at Roma and then moving to Shanghai Shenhua.
Foto: MAX ROSSI / REUTERS
