6 Players Real Madrid Sold Too Soon, From Robben to Seedorf

Real Madrid is arguably the biggest club in the world. Their success on the pitch and off of it is second to none in the sports world. Over the course of their history, they have signed some of the best players in the world and continue to do so for monstrous fees.

Some of these players get a few chances to impress and make a name for themselves at the club. Due to the pressure that comes with being a Real Madrid player, some don't really perform to their full abilities and are shipped as a result.

In big clubs like Real Madrid, players rarely get a chance to reach their potential or hit top form. Eden Hazard was expected to be the next big thing at Madrid, but injuries and poor form forced the club to move him.

Clubs still make mistakes while shaking up their squads. Los Blancos, for instance, have let go of players they should've kept a little longer. Here are some players they sold too soon, per 90min.

6 players Real Madrid gave up on

Mesut Ozil

The German left Madrid as one of the best playmakers in the world when he left the club in 2013 to join Arsenal. He was part of the team coached by Jose Mourinho that won the 2011/2012 La Liga title with 100 points. He was the engine behind a potent attack of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, and Kaka.

He was a key player for Germany when they won the 2014 World Cup. At Arsenal, he was their best player for some time. He helped them win four FA Cups before leaving unceremoniously in 2021. He definitely would've been a key player for Madrid in the last few years.

Angel Di Maria

DI Maria was sold after a man-of-the-match performance in the 2014 Champions League Final, which Madrid won after beating Atletico Madrid. He was sold to Manchester United, and many feel the arrival of Gareth Bale was the signal that he needed to move on. He spent only one season at United before he was sold to PSG, where he thrived, scoring 93 goals and providing 119 assists, per Transfermarkt.

Clarence Seedorf

Most fans associate the Dutchman with AC Milan. He arrived in Madrid from Sampdoria in 1996 and immediately became a star, winning La Liga, the Champions League. He left and joined Inter Milan in 2002 but was on the move again, this time signing for their arch-rivals AC Milan in 2002.

He became a key player for the Rossoneri. At Milan, he won the Serie A twice, the Champions League twice, a Coppa Italia, a Supercoppa, the UEFA Super Cup twice, and the Club World Cup.

Arjen Robben

Robben was, at some point, the best winger in the world. He joined Madrid in 2007 from Chelsea but only managed two seasons at Real Madrid. With the arrival of Ronaldo and Kaka, he left to sign for Bayern Munich in 2009, and that is where he made a name for himself.

He won 17 trophies at Bayern, including the 2013 Champions League, where he scored the winning goal against Borussia Dortmund. In 309 appearances, he scored 144 goals and had 109 assists. He retired in 2021.

Esteban Cambiasso

Cambiasso arrived in Madrid in 1996 from Argentina and made only 67 appearances before joining Inter Milan on a free transfer. In Italy, he won five Serie A titles and the 2020 Champions League under Jose Mourinho. He retired in 2017.

Claude Makelele

The Frenchman was signed by Madrid from Celta Vigo in 2000, but it was clear the club did not value him. Chelsea snapped him up in 2003 and he immediately helped them win the Premier League in 2005 and 2006. He played a key role in Chelsea's rise in European football and remains one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation.

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