10 Players Who Probably Regret Joining Real Madrid
7. Javier Saviola
Hailed as the next Maradona when Barcelona signed the £15 million striker from River Plate, needless to say, big things were expected from the 19 year old prodigy. Given four seasons at the Catalan giants to become everything they hoped he could be, Saviolas success was lukewarm at best. Following two loan spells at Monaco and Sevilla, he finally cut the chord in 2007, before doing the unmentionable crossing the Barca-Madrid divide.
However, it speaks volumes that such was his lack of an influence on the Barcelona side, with the emergence of the real deal in Lionel Messi, that nobody really cared when Real Madrid signed him on a free transfer in the summer of 2007. What paints an even more damning picture is that the Bernabeu faithful cared least of all. So used to a stockpile of expensive summer signings poached from Europes biggest clubs, they werent accustomed to settling for their rivals cast-offs.
On a personal level, Saviola will wish he hadnt bothered. Aiming to get his faltering career back on track, he was afforded even fewer opportunities at the Bernabeu than at the Nou Camp. Appearing 28 times in all competitions over the course of two seasons, and registering just five goals, Saviola remains something of a forgotten figure in Madrid folklore. Indeed, there will be some season ticket holders who will be completely oblivious to the fact that he ever donned the hallowed all-white strip, such were his lack of impetus and influence.