10 Man Utd Youngsters Who Never Fulfilled Their Potential

4. Eric Djemba-Djemba

So good they named him twice. Eric Djemba-Djemba has become a bit of a running joke in Premier League folklore - not just for the aforementioned hilarious punchline, but for his far more ridiculous displays in the centre of the park for Manchester United. If ever there are examples of warnings to managers about signing them based on good international tournaments, the name Djemba-Djemba would stand out in big neon letters. Having impressed for Cameroon during their victorious 2002 African Nations Cup triumph and their decent showing in the World Cup six months later, the 21 year old was subsequently courted for the next year by Manchester United, as they sought Roy Keane€™s eventual replacement. They really should have kept looking.

''Eric is a young player we۪ve watched throughout the season, and he۪s impressed us each time with his understanding of the game. He۪s quick, aggressive and a good passer of the ball, and is the kind of athletic footballer we are looking for. In the last few months, he has shown his development playing in a very good Cameroon team, and he looks like a Manchester United player in every sense.۪۪ - Sir Alex Ferguson, July 2003.

Arriving at the club full of promise and with bags of potential, the Cameroonian youngster flopped in dramatic fashion, making just 20 appearances over the course of two seasons before he was dumped on the hands of Aston Villa, where he continued to unimpress.