Five players you didn’t know once played for FC Barcelona

These players could not create an impact at the club despite showing a lot of promise initially.

The Camp Nou has long been the home of some of Europe’s best football and its most recognizable faces. FC Barcelona have been graced by the mesmeric presence of Ronaldinho, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi over the years. However, the great club has also been home to some great footballing names who flew under the radar.

We at Khel Now, bring you a list of players, you forgot had played for Barcelona;

5. Edgar Davids

In the early 2000’s, the Dutchman Davids was plying his trade for sides like in Juventus and AC Milan. Davids was drafted into Frank Rijkaard’s struggling Barcelona side on loan from Juventus in 2004. The midfielder was vital in the Blaugrana’s rise up the La Liga table, to finish in second place that season.

Edgar Davids is often credited with being the man who was the catalyst for Rijkaard’s success at the club, despite staying for only a few months.

4. Ricardo Quaresma

The Portuguese attacker has been one of the most frustrating footballers in the modern game. Quaresma’s fatal flaw was his inconsistency. In 2003, the then youngster was drafted into Frank Rijkaard’s FC Barcelona side. However, the forward made only 10 starts and 12 substitute appearances for the Cules.

3. Juan Roman Riquelme

Often venerated as one of the best midfielders to ever grace the game, Juan Roman Riquelme joined FC Barcelona from his beloved Boca in 2002. The move took place against the wishes of erstwhile Barcelona manager Louis van Gaal who never took to the Argentine midfielder.

Riquelme was continually played out of position and used sparingly by the Dutchman, before quitting the Camp Nou to make the move to Villareal on loan, the following season.

2. Mark Hughes

Mark “Sparky” Hughes is most famous for his mesmeric spells at Manchester United and later on in his career at Chelsea. However, after a stellar campaign where he scored 17 league goals at 21 years of age for Manchester United, Hughes made the move to the Camp Nou in 1986.

Despite his early promise Hughes’ stay in Barcelona was largely disappointing. His failure to adapt to Spanish culture and a meagre four goals in 28 games saw the Welshman shipped off to Bayern Munich on loan for the following campaign.

1. Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker is often hailed as one of the best English players of all-time. The former Leicester City and Everton man dazzled the world at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, winning the Golden Boot in the competition. His performances for club and country prompted the Blaugrana to lay down big money at the time to sign him from Everton and give him a taste of European football.

The Englishman was a hit at the Camp Nou, scoring 21 times in 41 games in his first season, including a hattrick in El Classico, instantly endearing him to the Barcelona fans. Lineker would spend three seasons at the Camp Nou before returning to England with Tottenham Hotspur.

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