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Football has a plethora of fascinating and prospective players who are working hard to improve their reputation with each performance. Many of these budding talents could soon become global superstars and vital to their clubs.
However, it is common knowledge that consistent game time and the trust of a manager are critical for a young player's optimal growth. It's even more crucial to push them for greater success when they get off to a solid start.
However, managers have generally preferred to persist with the winning lineup given the demands of new-age football and the quality of opposition. As a result, numerous talented players have been forced to sit on the bench.
On that note, let's take a look at five wonderkids who have massive potential but are persistently deprived of game time.
#5. Reinier - Borussia Dortmund (on loan)
Real Madrid have made a bit of a habit of capturing promising Brazilians. They signed Vinicius Junior in 2018 and Rodrygo in 2019. But their January 2020 acquisition of Reinier from Flamengo for €30 million hasn't lived up to expectations so far.
After six months of acclimatizing to Spain, the former Flamengo youngster moved to Borussia Dortmund on a two-year loan deal. What was seen as a win-win at the time is probably now looked back on with regret by both sides.
The 20-year-old has made just three starts in all competitions he's spent at Signal-Iduna-Park. With no significant injuries to mention, Reinier has only had one goal and one assist in 614 minutes since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Unsurprisingly Dortmund aren't keen on keeping the youngster around beyond his loan this summer. Meanwhile, Los Blancos are already weighing out the possibility of cutting their losses on him already despite being contracted to the club until 2026. Unless things change drastically, Reinier is set to become one of football's biggest busts in recent years.
#4. Rayan Cherki (Lyon)
Olympique Lyon have produced some great French talent recently and next on the line is teenager Rayan Cherki. At just 18-years-old the attacking midfielder has already made over 60 senior appearances for his hometown club, having made his debut as a 16-year-old.
But two years on and Cherki has only just passed 1,000 Ligue 1 minutes. He has played full 90 minutes only once this season and has just one league assist to his name. He has impressed in the Europa League, however, with two goals and three assists in four games. It is hard to understand why Cherki hasn't been given more of a chance in the league.
Cherki, who also has four goals in three games for the French U-21s, is starting to grow frustrated at his lack of game time.
#3. Xavi Simons (PSG)
There might be a chance that former Barcelona youngster Xavi Simons has cast his eye back towards Spain. Seeing the success of Pedri, Gavi, and Nico Gonzalez, Simons might've wondered what could've been.
Having joined Barcelona's academy La Masia as a seven-year-old in 2010, Simmons quickly became one of the club's most highly rated youth players. In 2019 as a 16-year-old, the Dutch youth international chose to leave Barca and sign a three-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain.
But now with just six months remaining on that deal, the midfielder is yet to make an impression at the Parc de Princes. He featured for just 13 minutes last season. His only two starts came in the Coup de France this season against fourth and fifth tier opposition.
He has missed out on valuable minutes he most certainly would've got if he'd remained at the Camp Nou. If he doesn't get enough game time in 2022, it wouldn't be a surprise to anyone to see him move on yet again.
#2. Yusuf Demir (Rapid Wien)
Yusuf Demir established himself as one of Europe's brightest talents last season. He contributed nine goals as a 17-year-old for Rapid Wien in 25 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga.
His performances earned him a loan move to Barcelona, who had an obligation to buy him for €10 million once he'd made 10 appearances for the club. The Austrian was somewhat of a regular under former Blaugrana manager Ronald Koeman. He made two starts and six appearances from the bench before the end of October.
When Xavi Hernandez became the new Barcelona manager though, his game time immediately dropped. His last appearance for the Spanish giants came in the Champions League on December 8. With Xavi reluctant to pay the €10 million, his loan was terminated, sending the teenager back to Vienna.
Rapid Wien remain keen to cash in on their prospect. But there's no doubting that six months at Camp Nou would've likely proved more beneficial to Demir than the alternative.
#1. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
This one might be a harsh one but after his €30 million switch from Rennes to Real Madrid, Eduardo Camavinga probably anticipated a little more game time. After all, Real Madrid is a squad full of aging midfielders. Luka Modric has turned 36, Toni Kroos and Casemiro are also on the elder side.
But as we enter the second half of the season, Camavinga has made just eight starts in all competitions for Los Blancos. At the time of writing, the 19-year-old has only had 511 minutes of action, which is the 17th most in the squad. It the least of anyone who has featured in at least 10 league of fixtures.
Manchester United and PSG were also said to be interested in the French international. And looking at each of their squads, it's not hard to imagine that Camavinga would've been a more regular starter at one of those clubs.
However, Camavinga was evidently signed as the future in midfield at the Santiago Bernabeu. If he remains patient, it's pretty likely he'll end up holding down the position at Real Madrid for the next decade.
