10 Real Madrid Rejects Who Made It Big Elsewhere
1. Samuel Eto’o
Fabio Capello plucked Samuel Eto’o from relative obscurity in Cameroon to introduce him into Real Madrid’s youth set-up in 1997.
The nimble forward got a trio of first-team outings during three years at the club, but was also sent out on loan to Leganes, Espanyol and Mallorca prior to making a permanent switch to the latter.
Eto’o expressed confusion as to the reasoning behind his eventual departure, but agent Santos Marquez suggested it may have been because Florentino Perez had something against black players, when explaining how he fell out with the Real president.
“It was over [Claude] Makelele, for a lack of respect," he told Spanish publication AS.
“Florentino doesn’t like black players; he’s not a racist but he doesn’t like them.
“I also fought with him over Eto’o. Samuel was just as much a Galactico as [Luis] Figo. He left for the colour of his skin.”
Whatever the truth, Eto’o embarked upon a wonderful journey that took him to the pinnacle of the footballing world.
He left Mallorca for Barcelona in 2004 and notched 108 goals in 145 games for the Catalans, acting as talisman in two Champions League final successes.
In 2009, it was on to Inter as a makeweight in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ill-fated move in the opposite direction. The Swede failed to settle at Camp Nou, while falling out with boss Pep Guardiola. Meanwhile, African idol Eto’o played a key part in Inter’s triumphant run to Champions League glory in 2010.
Spells at five clubs, including Chelsea and Everton, followed and at an international football conference in Dubai in 2016, Eto’o had some kind words for his first coach within the professional ranks.
“I would like to thank many people. Without them this beautiful adventure would never have happened,” Eto’o remarked.
“First of all, Mr. Capello. Thank you, thank you. I have never had the opportunity to do it before and I want to do it in front of all these people.
“It’s thanks to you that my family can eat and I can dedicate myself to the thing I most enjoy in the world - playing football.
“Thanks for giving me the opportunity and thanks for giving my family the opportunity.”
Even though it didn’t work out for Eto’o at Real Madrid, his evident fondness for Capello suggests that his time at the Bernabeu wasn’t all bad.
But, there’s abundant life after Real, and the Cameroonian superstar is a prime example.