There are few things more infuriating as a football fan than watching a player with unquestionable talent being dicked around by their club, and then going on to great things elsewhere. Here's ten examples of managers managing to balls up an absolute gem:
1. Javier Mascherano - West Ham
Spent his 6 months at the club behind Hayden Mullins in the pecking order. Next.
2. Robbie Keane - Liverpool
If you sign a striker for £20 million, why on earth would you use him as backup for when your slightly more expensive striker gets injured? I could have done the same job, for a fraction of the wages. As Ireland's all-time top goalscorer, he has been criminally under-used at club level.
3. Joe Cole - Chelsea
In his time at Chelsea, averaged 26 games a season; a great many of those off the bench. Yes, he won awards and the odd accolade, but these were the peak years of his career and we never got to see a full, stunning season from him.
4. Michael Owen - Real Madrid
Only started 15 of 41 games, and still scored 18 goals. Just think what he could have done if they had had a little faith.
5. Samuel Eto'o - Real Madrid
Another Madrid forward, and this one is even worse. Real had him for three years, sent him out on loan to three different clubs and played him precisely three times. Has scored 193 goals in 338 games since leaving.
6. Lassana Diarra - Chelsea/Arsenal
Went from occasional right-back at Chelsea to Carling Cup player at Arsenal. Then boom, he goes to Portsmouth and becomes one of the best deep-lying midfielders in Europe, and now wears the Madrid number 10 shirt. How Wenger could have used a player like him.
7. Gerard Pique - Man Utd
Inexplicably under-used at Old Trafford, and couldn't get away fast enough. The second he did, he won the Champions League, Spanish League, European Championship and World Cup and became probably the most expensive centre-back in the world. Sure Chris Smalling is destined for similar things, though.
8. Patrick Vieira - AC Milan
Made captain of Cannes while still a teenager, became one of the best midfielders in Premier League history at Arsenal, but between that had a season in the reserves at AC Milan, then coached by Fabio Capello. And was sold for £3.5 million.
9. Thierry Henry - Juventus
Central striker who had just won the World Cup. I know, let's play him on the wing. That'll work...
10. Carlo Cudicini - everywhere
Poor sod. Should have at least made the Italian squads over the last 15 years, but never did because he wasn't consistently played at Chelsea, or got injured when he started to get a run. Now 37 and playing at Tottenham behind Heurelho Gomes. Does life get any more frustrating.
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