" WASTED,TALENT....? "

Five Players all destined for great careers.

All in their twenties still..





5. Kerlon
Kerlon came to prominence at the age of 17 due to his unusual but stylish technique of dribbling the ball on his head. This became known as the seal dribble and his other array of skills lead him to be dubbed the “next Ronaldinho”. A big money move to Inter Milan did not work out with him not playing one single game there. He was last seen playing in the third tier of the Japanese League and is currently a free agent at the age of 26.



4. David Bentley
Being compared to a star player appears to be something of a curse. Steve McClaren dubbed Bentley the “new Beckham” due to his passing ability, yet he finds himself without a club at the age of 29. He did make a big money move to Tottenham in 2008 for £15m, but over half of his five years there saw him sent out on loan. He was released from Spurs in June, 2013.

3. Cherno Samba
Cherno Samba seemed to have the World at his feet as a teenager. He was discovered by Millwall as a teenager after scoring 132 goals in 32 goals for his school team. He was such a prospect that at the age of 14 Liverpool offered £2m for him after a trial with the club. Sadly, the move did not materialise and after several unsuccessful stints at various clubs both in England and in Europe; he finds himself on the football scrapheap at the age of 28.



2. Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson was a dynamic midfielder who looked destined to play for England. However, Johnson has suffered with mental health problems, and was in the media spotlight for being arrested twice in 2012 for drink driving offences. Unfortunately, it became apparent his personal problems were having too much impact on his football career and he retired at the age of 24.


1. Freddy Adu
This is the classic case of a young player who was hyped up and failed to live up to expectations. At the age of 14, Freddy Adu had already agreed a million pound contract with Nike, was dubbed the “next Pele”, and was a well known player on the Championship Manager games. He is still only 24 and finds himself currently without a club.

Who was that youngster who went from palace to spurs.... was it bostock?

Who was that youngster who went from palace to spurs.... was it bostock?

Yep. Believe he's now playing for United feeder club Royal Antwerp.

Spurs almost forced the same fate onto Giovanni dos Santos, though he's managed to prove himself once again in La Liga and for Mexico.

Iago Falque is another one. Spurs picked him up as one of Europe's most promising youngster's from Juventus two or three years back but have forced him out on loan since. He's now 24 and in the far background at White Hart Lane. Such a shame.

If you believe Freddy Adu was 14 at the time of the hype.... or that he is 24 now then you will literally believe anything.

Add 10-12 years on to that and you will be closer to the mark.

Freddy Adu is in his mid twenties and it was around his early Teens when the hype started..

Freddy Adu is in his mid twenties and it was around his early Teens when the hype started..

Freddy Adu was probably in his early twenties when people thought he was 14.

Id say he is approaching his mid 30's now. Its no coincidence not even Blackpool will touch him. His legs went a few years back when he was supposedly 20/21

Leon Jeanne was incredible in the game I saw him play vs Swansea. He looked like he had the potential to play at the very top.