5 wonderkids who have not lived up to the hype this season 

Joao Felix in action for Atletico Madrid
Joao Felix in action for Atletico Madrid

#3 Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Rodrygo celebrates a goal for Real Madrid
Rodrygo celebrates a goal for Real Madrid

Like Reinier Jesus, Rodrygo is another example of Real Madrid's obsession with ensuring that they do not miss out on the next Neymar.

Rodrygo joined Real Madrid from Santos in 2019 for a fee of £40.5 million. The young forward had done well at Santos, but there were eyebrows raised at the transfer fee. Since joining Real Madrid, Rodrygo has enjoyed some good moments, but has been extremely inconsistent this season.

The 20-year old has made 15 appearances in La Liga this season for Real Madrid, providing five assists. Having enjoyed a good debut campaign with Los Blancos, the Brazil international, who can play in multiple forward positions, will have to find his best form soon. Many talented youngsters are waiting to take his spot.


#2 Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)

Mason Greenwood in action for Manchester United
Mason Greenwood in action for Manchester United

Manchester United have a rich history of consistently giving minutes to talented academy players, and Mason Greenwood is no exception.

A highly-rated talent, Greenwood's potential is not in question. An excellent finisher with no weak foot, the 19-year old had a stellar first season with Manchester United last season. In 49 appearances in all competitions, Greenwood scored 17 goals, with Manchester United fans rejoicing about having another world-class academy talent.

This season has been a struggle for Greenwood though. The England international has made 41 appearances in all competitions so far, scoring six goals. Extremely young, Greenwood still has ample time to develop his game and become an established star for Manchester United. This season has been a tough learning curve for him.


#1 Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)

Joao Felix in Atletico Madrid colours
Joao Felix in Atletico Madrid colours

When Atletico Madrid paid a club-record £114.5 million to sign Joao Felix from Benfica in 2019, there were doubts as to whether the youngster could fit into a Diego Simeone system.

Two seasons later, those doubts still linger. Felix is clearly a highly talented attacker, but Diego Simeone's style of play is yet to bring the best out of him. After some teething issues last season, the Portugal international started the season well but his form has dwindled away.

The 21-year old has made 24 appearances in La Liga, out of which 13 have been starts. He has scored seven goals and provided four assists, and his sharpness, creativity and desire have all stood out. But there have been suggestions that Felix might need to leave Atletico Madrid soon to fulfill his potential.


Also Read: 5 things Neymar needs to do to win the 2021 Ballon d'Or

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