Nine players who did almost nothing at Barcelona but shone after leaving

Barcelona Football Club, often referred to as FC Barcelona or simply Barça, is one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world. With a rich history and tradition of producing world-class talent, the club has seen many players rise to stardom during their time at the Camp Nou. However, not all players manage to shine when wearing the iconic Blaugrana shirt. In this article, we look at nine players who did next to nothing at Barcelona but went on to achieve great success after leaving the club.

 Zlatan Ibrahimovic:

 The tall Swedish forward arrived at Barcelona with huge expectations in 2009. Despite his talent, his strained relationship with then manager Pep Guardiola limited his playing time. After leaving for AC Milan and later Paris Saint-Germain, Ibrahimović became one of the most prolific strikers in Europe.

 Thiago Alcântara: 

A product of Barcelona's La Masia academy, Thiago has shown promise at the club. However, injuries and the fight for places in midfield led him to pursue a move to Bayern Munich in 2013. He flourished there under Pep Guardiola and became a key figure in the Bavarian powerhouse. 

Gerard Deulofeu:

 A highly touted young man, Deulofeu struggled to establish himself in Barcelona's first team. After several loan spells and a stint at Everton, the Spanish winger found his groove at AC Milan and later at Watford where he showcased his talent.

 Bojan Krkic:

 Bojan, who was once dubbed as the 'new Messi', couldn't live up to the huge hype at Barcelona. He embarked on a journey that took him to several clubs in Europe, including Roma and Stoke City, where he rediscovered his scoring prowess. 

Cesc Fàbregas:

 Cesc Fàbregas returned to Barcelona in 2011 with high expectations, but the presence of Xavi and Iniesta limited his influence. After returning to the Premier League with Chelsea, he became a key part of the team's success.

 Giovani dos Santos:

 The Mexican forward was a talented prospect in Barcelona's youth academy but struggled to break into the first team. After Barcelona, ​​he experienced a resurgence with clubs such as Mallorca and LA Galaxy.

 Grimaldi:

 Alex Grimaldo was once part of Barcelona's youth team but left for Benfica in search of regular playing time. He has since become one of the best left-backs in Europe and is attracting interest from top clubs.

 Yaya Toure:

Yaya Touré spent three seasons at Barcelona but was not a regular starter. His move to Manchester City made him one of the Premier League's most dominant midfielders, winning multiple titles.

 Oriol Romeu:

 Romeu made a few appearances for Barcelona before moving to Chelsea. He has since become a reliable midfielder for Southampton in the Premier League. 

Barcelona have seen many players come through their ranks, but not every player can flourish under the intense lights of the Camp Nou. The players featured in this article faced different challenges during their time at Barcelona, ​​but all found success after leaving the club. Their stories serve as a reminder that football is a journey full of ups and downs and sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery to unlock a player's true potential.