10 Real Madrid Rejects Who Made It Big Elsewhere

6. Arjen Robben

Serial diver Arjen Robben was a success with Real Madrid, yet found himself out in the cold when returning president Florentino Perez waved his chequebook.

He of the famous cut-in from the right to finish with his left had shown glimpses of outstanding technique and talent with PSV and Chelsea, thus piquing the interest of Spanish behemoth Real.

The Merengues brought the Dutch maestro to Madrid by way of a £24 million bid in 2007, thwarting Stamford Bridge regulars just as they expected to see Robben explore his full potential in a blue shirt.

That potential was realised at the Bernabeu, as the Netherlands international held down a regular place in the side and saw Real claim the 2008 league crown at a canter.

A transfer away from the club was forced upon him when president Perez decided to introduce both Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka in the summer of 2009, therefore making Robben’s role redundant.

Though Ronaldo became a club legend, Kaka lived up to his name rather than his billing. For Robben, it all came up roses, as he helped Bayern Munich to multiple Bundesliga titles and a sought-after Champions League trophy in 2013.

He recently stated his desire to go back to Groningen where it all began when he finally decides to hang up his boots, but will look to further improve his better than one-in-two goal ratio at Bayern before that happens.