Crystal Palace talent Eberechi Eze has told Goal that his rejections over the course of his career have spurred him on.
Eze enjoyed a stunning afternoon last Saturday, as he bagged a goal and an assist in Palace’s 4-1 thrashing of Leeds United.
His free kick was a beautiful strike in off the crossbar, and the Eagles will now hope to see him kick on after a slow start to life at Selhurst Park.
Eze, 22, cost Palace £16million over the summer, and it marked a huge step forward for the playmaker after various rejections in his career.
Eze started out at Arsenal before being released at 13, and then attempted to settle down with Fulham, Reading and Millwall to no avail.
Queens Park Rangers eventually handed him a contract after a trial spell, and he never looked back as he became a Championship star.
Those clubs may now regret turning down Eze, and he has discussed the emotions of being released having been shown the door by Arsenal.
Eze claims that his releases have built a real resilience inside him, and whilst he was in a tough place after being let go, he was strong and came back even better – and he will no doubt want to prove Arsenal wrong now he is in the top flight.
“Of course, you have doubts,” said Eze. “You have doubts in your thinking of whether you’re going to get your professional contract, whether you’re going to be what you hoped you’d be. It has built huge resilience in me; I think being released, I’m sure loads of players will tell you this, being released is not the best feeling and you’re not in the best space mentally.”
“But of course, as a footballer, not just a footballer, but anyone, you have to be strong, you have to be courageous. You have to get back up again, not allow your setbacks to determine where you end up in life. You have to keep moving forward. For me, I feel that’s something that was put into me, was forced into me after being released – I had to get up and be strong,” he added.
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