Clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur have seen youngsters shine immediately after arriving.
Tottenham’s Dele Alli
One of the best feelings for a fan is to see a player initially doubted at their club, quickly go on and show his worth and prove them wrong.
Today, clubs pay heavily for players on the basis of their star studded potential, which is a brave move considering they may not turn out to be as good as their fee indicates.
Giving an opportunity to a youngster comes with a risk, but these 10 players certainly starred at the first time of asking and quickly became drenched in brilliance.
Ronaldo — In 1996, the $19.5 million fee paid by Barcelona to lure the Brazilian from PSV Eindhoven was a world record, but it did not seem to faze the forward. After 42 goals in 46 league appearances in the Netherlands, the 19-year-old tallied 47 in 49 in all competitions for his new club. That was enough for him to be named FIFA World Player of the Year and earn another record breaking move to Inter Milan.
Cristiano Ronaldo — From the very start of his Old Trafford career, the winger was clearly a superstar in the making. A sensational half hour from the Portuguese on his debut against Bolton Wanderers had everyone amazed. In 2004, Ronaldo was not a goal machine like he is now, scoring only six goals in all competitions. Though regular pieces of magic and a strike in the FA Cup final exhibited his prodigious potential.
Dele Alli — The youngster from MK Dons relished in his breakthrough year in the Premier League. No one expected him to hit the headlines as quickly as he did, but scoring ten goals and providing nine assists in 33 appearances for Spurs provided Alli, who was in the running for the PFA Young Player of the Year award, with a deserved starting berth in England’s eleven at the Euros.
Wayne Rooney — Following playing an outstanding part in England’s Euro 2004 adventure, where he became one of the youngest scorers in the competition’s history, at just 18, the striker joined United from Everton. And talk about making an impact, Rooney notching a hat-trick in his first game in a Champions League tie against Fenerbahce was the start of a 12 year run that would take him on the verge of becoming United’s record goalscorer.
Roy Keane — Scouts all over England were watching the Irishman perform for Cobh Ramblers, with Brian Clough and Nottingham Forest the lucky ones to secure his signature. His three years at the City Ground showed glimpses of what he could become. The box-to-box midfielder flourished, scoring 32 goals in 154 games and would eventually develop into one of the best players in the top tier’s history under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Anthony Martial — When Louis van Gaal signed the Frenchman from Monaco on deadline day in the summer of 2015, the transfer initially screamed of desperation. Though on his debut, it couldn’t have gone any better, with the clincher in front of the Stretford End in a 3-1 win against arch enemies Liverpool after coming on as a substitute. His performances were the shining light of a disappointing season at Old Trafford.
Paul Pogba — After departing United following a dispute over his contract, the midfielder joined Serie A champions Juventus on a free. Many assumed the Frenchman would play a bit-part role in his first year in Turin, yet he immediately hit the ground running, creating 22 chances in 37 appearances.
Marek Hamsik — The scorer of ten goals in all competitions in his debut season at Napoli, the Slovak has come a long way since then, now captain of the side. At the age of 19 in 2007 when he joined, president of the club Aurelio De Laurentiis described him as a player who should be closely watched in the future. And how spot on he was.
Julian Weigl — One of Thomas Tuchel’s first signings as new boss of Borussia Dortmund last summer, few knew what the 19-year-old possessed. Though, as the season grew older and older, Weigl’s reputation grew and grew. Immediately slotted into the heart of the German’s midfield, he played a crucial role in helping the club bounce back up to second last season after finishing seventh a year in 2014/15, and was rewarded with a place in Germany’s Euros squad.
Neven Subotic — Jurgen Klopp decided the defender would follow in his footsteps with both moving to Dortmund from Mainz in 2008. Helping his new side beat Bayern Munich on his debut, the 19-year-old never looked back. In his first campaign, Subotic repaid the faith shown in him by his manager, and proving a commanding figure after 33 league outings with an impressive tally of six goals from the heart of the backline.
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