With Gareth Bale coming to terms with the harsh reality of life at the incredibly demanding Real Madrid, here’s a look at five other big names who couldn’t quite hack being a ‘Galactico’…
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1) Kaka
Signed in the same summer as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka never managed to take his world class form from AC Milan with him to Real Madrid, and certainly proved a waste of money at £56m.
2) Robinho
Signed as one of the most exciting youngsters in world football, Robinho was the Neymar of his day, only he really couldn’t live up to the hype at Real Madrid and left for Manchester City in 2008.
3) Michael Owen
Despite some memorable moments, including against Barcelona, Michael Owen is another who struggled to make an instant impact when joining Real Madrid from Liverpool, lasting just one season before returning to England with Newcastle United.
4) Rafael van der Vaart
Long regarded as one of the best young talents in the world, Rafael van der Vaart certainly struggled with the expectation levels at the Bernabeu, falling out of favour before moving to Tottenham Hotspur, where he shone away from the spotlight.
5) Wesley Sneijder
Another player inhibited by the huge pressure in Madrid, Wesley Sneijder truly fulfilled his potential when he left Real for a move to Inter Milan in 2009.