5 players you didn't know played for Barcelona

Several talented players have turned up for Barcelona over the years.
Several talented players have turned up for Barcelona over the years.

#3 Juan Roman Riquelme

Juan Roman Riquelme was mismanaged at Barcelona.
Juan Roman Riquelme was mismanaged at Barcelona.

One of the finest midfielders of his time, Juan Roman Riquelme failed to impress during his short stint with Barcelona.

After arriving from Boca Juniors in 2002 for €10 million, the former Argentina international failed to light up the Camp Nou, scoring only six times from 42 appearances.

Part of that was, however, down to then-manager Louis van Gaal playing him from the wings even though Riquelme was at his most potent in an attacking midfield role.

Riquelme soon rediscovered his best form with Villarreal, showing Barcelona wondering what might have been.


#2 Maxi Lopez

Maxi Lopez's whirlwind stint at Barcelona fizzled out in no time.
Maxi Lopez's whirlwind stint at Barcelona fizzled out in no time.

Maxi Lopez was an emergency signing by Barcelona, who sought to replace the injured Henrik Larsson by signing the River Plate forward in January 2005 for just €6.2 million.

The move supposedly yielded dividends, as Lopez netted the winner against Chelsea on his Champions League debut. But that would remain the highlight of his time at Barcelona.

The Argentinian failed to build on that glorious start and scored just once in the next 12 months; of course, his first-team opportunities were limited during this period.

Lopez was subsequently loaned out to Barcelona's domestic rivals Mallorca in 2007 before he was signed up by FC Moscow.


#1 Thiago Motta

Thiago Motta couldn't fulfil his potential at Barcelona due to injuries.
Thiago Motta couldn't fulfil his potential at Barcelona due to injuries.

Unlike the other players on this list, Thiago Motta commenced his professional career at Barcelona in 2001 after coming through the ranks at the club's B-team.

Only 19 at the time, Motta's appearances were limited before injuries wreaked havoc on his time at the Camp Nou, which prompted him to leave Barcelona in 2007.

However, the former Italian star's fitness issues continued even in his subsequent spells with Atletico Madrid, Genoa and Inter Milan before he found a semblance of consistency with Paris Saint-Germain.

For six years, Motta was a key playmaker at PSG, making over 200 appearances in all competitions and winning 18 domestic titles.

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