The 18 Biggest 'What If' Talents in Real Madrid History

Injury-cursed wonderkids, mismanaged prodigies and the ones who got away to shine elsewhere: Madrid's great might-have-beens. Which one stings the most?

1

James Rodriguez

Arrived as the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner but faded under Zidane despite flashes of brilliance.

1000pts

2

Marcos Llorente

Homegrown midfielder sold across the city to Atletico, where he reinvented himself as a star.

904pts

3

Fernando Gago

Elegant Argentine midfielder once tipped as Redondo's heir whose career was repeatedly halted by injuries.

791pts

4

Theo Hernandez

Talented academy left-back let go by Madrid who blossomed into a world-class defender at AC Milan.

730pts

5

Asier Illarramendi

Record-fee Basque midfielder weighed down by expectation who never settled before returning to Real Sociedad.

678pts

6

Kaka

World Player of the Year in 2007 whose injuries meant he never recaptured his Milan brilliance in Madrid.

678pts

7

Martin Odegaard

Signed at 16 amid huge hype, he was loaned out repeatedly and only fulfilled his potential at Arsenal.

678pts

8

Jonathan Woodgate

Gifted English centre-back whose injury-wrecked debut, an own goal and red card, came to symbolise wasted promise.

678pts

9

Nuri Sahin

Bundesliga Player of the Year at Dortmund who managed only a handful of league games before fading at Madrid.

616pts

10

Achraf Hakimi

Academy-made full-back sold by Madrid who became one of the world's best right-backs elsewhere.

616pts

11

Jese Rodriguez

La Fabrica's brightest jewel whose serious knee injury derailed a career once destined for the very top.

616pts

12

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

Prolific Dutch striker who barely got a look-in at Madrid before scoring freely back in the Bundesliga.

616pts

13

Robinho

Brazilian wonderkid hailed as the next Pele whose dazzling tricks never translated into sustained Madrid stardom.

542pts

14

Michael Owen

A Ballon d'Or winner reduced to a bit-part super-sub despite a strong scoring ratio for Madrid.

542pts

15

Fabio Coentrao

Portuguese left-back signed as a star who slid down the pecking order and never kicked on at Madrid.

542pts

16

Takefusa Kubo

Japanese prodigy nicknamed the Japanese Messi who was sold on before truly getting a Madrid chance.

542pts

17

Royston Drenthe

Explosive Dutch winger and Euro 2007 star of the tournament whose Madrid career flamed out spectacularly.

542pts

18

Reinier

Brazilian teenage signing bought for big money who disappeared into a series of unsuccessful loans.

452pts