10 Man Utd Youngsters Who Never Fulfilled Their Potential

3. Ravel Morrison

When Sir Alex Ferguson pinpoint a 14 year old as the best he€™s ever seen at that age, one would expect that player to have reached loftier heights than Cardiff City by the age of 21. The trouble with Ravel Morrison was that while he is undoubtedly a supremely gifted player, it looks like his behavioural problems and attitude malfunctions will erode his promising career. It doesn€™t matter how talented a player may be - without the proper dedication and application, they will never make it, and Ferguson could see that. Indeed, it were ultimately off-field indiscretions that curtailed his Old Trafford career, having been involved in several controversies including an FA charge for homophobic abuse via social media, an assault charge, and two counts of witness intimidation, amongst others. Having kept the wrong company in Manchester, Ferguson knew that he was never going to realise his potential while he remained in the city.

''Sir Alex let Ravel go for his own benefit. He said that if he comes down to you, hopefully he will find a new life and a new way of living. His ability will then start to come through because all he asks and all he wants in his life is to play first-team football, that was all he said he wanted to do and why he wanted to leave. Somewhere along the line, the lad has woken up and I think he۪s changed himself and delivered.۪۪ - Sam Allardyce, December 2013.

It may have been wishful thinking on the West Ham manager€™s part. Having signed the Mancunian in 2011, Morrison looked to have finally knuckled down last season, before he was remanded in custody at the end of the season after being charged with two counts of common assault against his mother and a former girlfriend. Allardyce was clearly not impressed, and swiftly sentenced him to a season-long loan at Championship side Cardiff City.