Over the past decade, Real Madrid has experienced an incredibly successful period in its history, winning six UEFA Champions League titles and solidifying its status as the "King of Europe." The team has been blessed with a plethora of talented players, including superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo, who were unable to end their careers at the club. Midfield talents such as James Rodriguez and Isco, despite their immense potential, were unable to dislodge the dominant midfield trio, leading them to leave with regrets. Let's take a look at the current situations of five talented players who struggled at Real Madrid but found different paths in their careers after leaving.
Isco
At 32 years old, Isco's career is a testament to resilience, transitioning from a highly-regarded young player to a top midfielder at Real Madrid, and then experiencing a resurgence at Betis after nearly being without a club. In July 2013, Isco, then a Malaga prodigy with the European Golden Boy award, joined Real Madrid for a transfer fee of 30 million euros. He developed into a world-class attacking midfielder, making 250 appearances and helping the team win 19 titles, including five UEFA Champions League trophies, with his market value once nearing 100 million euros.
Despite his exceptional dribbling and ball control skills, Isco's tendency to hold onto the ball too long, weak physicality, and slow speed put him at a disadvantage in Real Madrid's midfield competition. He was let go by the club in August 2022 and faced a career low point at Sevilla, where he was on the brink of retirement due to lack of playing opportunities. However, under the guidance of his former mentor Manuel Pellegrini at Betis, Isco has made a remarkable comeback, earning multiple Man of the Match awards since joining and being considered a key player in midfield. Betis has extended his contract until 2027, and he has scored in two consecutive games this season, demonstrating excellent form.
Hese
Hese's technical style bears a resemblance to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, and he was once hailed as one of Europe's most promising young stars, earning the nickname "the next Ronaldo." However, his fate after leaving Real Madrid differs significantly from Isco's. Born in 1993 in Las Palmas, Spain, Hese joined Real Madrid's first team in 2013 at the age of 20. With his incredible speed, explosive power, and goal-scoring instincts, he scored eight goals and provided six assists in his debut season, leading Spain to victory in the U19 European Championship and claiming the Golden Boot with five goals.
His career took a significant turn in 2014 when he suffered a serious injury at the hands of Schalke 04 defender Sead Kolašinac. This marked the beginning of a downward spiral for Hese, who found it increasingly difficult to maintain his position at Real Madrid. In 2016, Paris Saint-Germain signed Hese from Real Madrid for a transfer fee of 25 million euros, setting a record for the highest transfer fee for a Real Madrid youth product. However, his performance in Ligue 1 did not improve, and his frequent visits to Paris nightclubs led to an early termination of his contract with PSG. Since then, he has become a true journeyman in football, playing for clubs such as Las Palmas, Stoke City, Real Betis, and Sporting CP. At one point, he was released by three teams within a year, and he has now faded from public view.
James Rodriguez (J罗)
At 33 years old, J罗 returned to La Liga last summer, joining Rayo Vallecano after an impressive performance at the Copa America. However, the former Real Madrid number 10 has disappointed many, failing to recapture his peak form. J罗's breakout performance at the World Cup in Brazil introduced the world to the Colombian sensation, prompting Real Madrid to spend a hefty 75 million euros on him. Media outlets widely reported on the signing, expecting him to be the next "dominant president." The confident Colombian talent stepped into the limelight after moving from Monaco to Real Madrid, delivering an impressive first season with 13 goals and 13 assists. At the time, both Isco and J罗 were young players with similar positions and styles, creating a competitive dynamic between them.
However, starting from the 2015/16 season, J罗's career began to decline, much like Isco's. Hindered by his more traditional playing style and injuries, he could never displace Modric and Kroos from their positions. Consequently, J罗 was loaned to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2017 and gradually faded from the starting lineup. Over two seasons in the Bundesliga, he played in 67 matches across all competitions, scoring 15 goals and providing 20 assists. Nonetheless, upon returning to Real Madrid, he found no place for himself. He ultimately had to bid farewell to the club in the 2019/20 season, embarking on a journeyman career.
Gareth Bale
In September 2013, Welsh superstar Gareth Bale transferred from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for a fee of 101 million euros. During his time with the club, he made 258 appearances, scoring 106 goals and providing 67 assists, winning five UEFA Champions League titles, three La Liga titles, four FIFA Club World Cups, one Copa del Rey, three UEFA Super Cups, and one Spanish Super Cup. Although Bale won numerous championships with Real Madrid, his tenure there was not entirely successful. The club had hoped he would become a future core player, but his performance did not meet expectations.
Despite this, Bale left behind many memorable moments with Real Madrid. One of the most iconic was the 2013/14 Spanish King's Cup final, where in the 85th minute, he made a remarkable run and scored the decisive goal, helping Real Madrid defeat Barcelona 2-1 to claim the title. This feat gave rise to phrases like "Bale is the shortest distance between two points," "passing to himself three seconds later," and "off-field curve death overtake" that are still talked about today. However, in his later years at Real Madrid, Bale was gradually sidelined due to injuries, and tensions arose with fans who were unhappy with him prioritizing Wales and golf over Real Madrid. Now, however, Bale is enjoying life, having retired from the football pitch to fully immerse himself in the sport of golf.
Luka Jovic
In the summer transfer window of 2019, Real Madrid spent 63 million euros to bring in the 21-year-old forward Luka Jovic from Eintracht Frankfurt, hoping he would succeed Benzema and lead the team's frontline for the next decade. However, Jovic failed to live up to expectations, scoring only three goals and providing five assists in 51 appearances for Real Madrid. He eventually left the club on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, marking one of the worst transfers in Real Madrid's history. After leaving Real Madrid, Jovic embarked on a different career path.
Away from the noise of the Bernabeu, he scored 13 goals in a single season at Fiorentina, becoming an important player in the team's attack. His impressive performances caught the attention of Italian giants AC Milan. In the 2023-24 season, Jovic played 30 games for AC Milan, contributing nine goals and two assists, establishing himself as a key player. However, this season Jovic encountered difficulties. Following the appointment of Fonseca, Milan brought in two new center forwards, Morata and Abraham, causing Jovic to lose his place in the team. He has only played in three games this season.