10 Signings Real Madrid Want You To Forget About

5. Elvir Baljic

Real Madrid's Thomas Gravesen of Denmark reacts during a 2nd round, 1st leg, Champions league soccer match against Arsenal at the Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Tuesday Feb. 21, 2006. Arsenal won the game 1-0. (AP Photo/Paul White)
Steve Morton/EMPICS Sport

Elvir Baljic was averaging more than a goal every other game in Turkey in the early stages of his career. The winger had started his career at FK Sarajevo, before going on to play for Bursaspor and later signing for domestic giants Fenerbahçe.

Somewhat inevitably, his goalscoring exploits attracted the interest of several major clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid winning the race to sign the Bosnian for a fee of €26m in 1999. 

Baljic's career was doomed from the start, with the winger rupturing his cruciate ligament in pre-season. He went on to play just 11 games for Real Madrid between 1999 and 2002, scoring only one goal. During that time in the Spanish capital, he was also loaned out twice before his contract was terminated in 2002, paving the way for a return to Turkey. 

The Bosnian retired in 2008, and held the position as assistant manager for his home nation between 2010 and 2014, recently working with the team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. 

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Journalism student hopping between London and the North-East. Boxing enthusiast and Football Manager addict. Was diagnosed with supporting Sunderland AFC as a child.