10 Players Who Didn't Live Up to Their Potential...culprit7

NUNO GOMEZ

Portuguese striker Nuno Gomes caught the world's attention at Euro 2000, where he scored four goals but received a seven-month international ban for pushing the referee in the semifinal.

He subsequently earned a €17 million move from Benfica to Fiorentina, which was sadly cut short by the Italian side's financial collapse. Back at Benfica, Gomes struggled to earn a starting place before gradually fading into the reserve side.

After being released by the club, Gomes spent a season at Braga and then headed to Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

 

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RICARDO QUARESMA

Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma had everything: Pace, sublime technique and more tricks than a David Copperfield show.

After leaving Sporting in 2003, however, Quaresma endured utterly fruitless spells at Barcelona, Internazionale and Chelsea, punctuated by a reasonably successful stint back in his homeland with Porto.

Showing that he was outside his comfort zone away from the Iberian peninsula, he then went on to Besiktas, where a bust-up with manager Carlos Carvalhal led to an indefinite suspension.

In December, the Turkish club paid out the remainder of his contract and he is now in Dubai with Al Ahli.

Quaresma promised so much, but his confrontational personality and perceived selfishness on the field proved to be his undoing.

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MACAULEY CHRISANTUS
Another homeboy to make our list is chrisantus. he was part of late coach Yemi Tella's squad that won the 2007 under 17 world cup. he won the golden ball award as the highest goal scorer and thereafter nothing, no goals and all of a sudden we are searching everywhere for this guy to hit the headlines and still nothing!! recently though, he seems to have found his scoring boots again, one only hoes that he rediscovers his true potentials and give people like Messi and Ronaldo a run for their money. he's got talent but.....

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ERIC DJEMBA DJEMBA

Off the field, Eric Djemba Djemba was famous for spending lavishly, reportedly owning a fleet of 10 luxury SUVs at one point. On the field, he became known as an extraordinary disappointment.

Picked up by Manchester United from Nantes, the aggressive Cameroonian midfielder was supposed to be the new Roy Keane. After 20 games in two seasons, it was apparent that he was actually one of Sir Alex Ferguson's poorer signings, often failing to perform in big games.

He was sent to Aston Villa, where he was similarly underwhelming, before spells in Qatar, Denmark and Israel. Currently, the 32-year-old plies his trade with Israeli Premier League side Bnei Sakhnin. Abeg Enyeama greet the guy for us when next una jam.

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ONYEKACHI APAM
This hugely talented guy was once touted as the next king of super eagles defence following his spectacular performances at the 2008 olympics along side the likes of Mikel and Taiye Taiwo. He has suffered so much injury setbacks that have denied him the opportunity to really show the world what an abundance of talent he is. Well, if Coach Keshi decides to take a second look at this lad and he on the other hand doesn't get injured, then we might be seeing Apam giving Nigerian fans something to cheer about.

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JOE COLE

Joe Cole was a talented product of the West Ham youth system who enjoyed great success when he broke into the Hammers' first team in 1998.

His eye for goal and penchant for "showboating" caught the attention of Chelsea, where he moved and won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and two League Cups.

Despite the trophy haul, Cole was often criticised for ignoring defensive duties by Jose Mourinho, and, after a series of injuries, ended up at Liverpool in 2010. When Brendan Rodgers arrived, Cole was deemed surplus to requirements, and he ended up in France with Lille.

Now, he is back where he started at West Ham. Many teenage prodigies achieve less than Cole, but so much was expected of him on domestic and international levels.

He reminds me of Tarila Okorowanta and Uwem Ekarika.

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ROBINHO

The Brazilian legend Pele was suitably impressed with a 15-year-old Robinho, who then went on to help his old club Santos win the Brazilian Campeonato of 2002 and 2004.

In 2005, he made the move to Real Madrid, where his flamboyant skills helped earn two La Liga titles under Fabio Capello.

However, Robinho still wasn't quite the player he had been in Brazil, and things only got worse during a disappointing spell at Manchester City. He then moved to Milan, where he has now outstayed his welcome, with a move back to Brazil looking likely this summer.

Robinho is a classic example of a precocious Brazilian who moves to Europe and fails to live up to his South American reputation.

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