5 Barcelona youngsters who failed to justify their hype

#3 Victor Vazquez

Barcelona v Rubin Kazan - UEFA Champions League

Part of the famed 'class of 87' team at Barcelona, which included Messi, Fabregas and Pique, Victor Vazquez was deemed to be the most talented in the team. The Spaniard impressed in the academy and was handed his first-team debut in 2008.

Injuries struck, robbing the talented youngster of several years of development. The midfielder had to wait two years before he notched up his first goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Rubin Kazan in the UEFA Champions League. Vazquez left Barcelona in 2011 after seeing no clear path for himself, and has since played in five different countries.

Now 34, Vazquez plies his trade at Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS, a far cry from what was expected of him as a youngster.

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#2 Giovanni Dos Santos

Real Madrid v Barcelona - La Liga

Dubbed "the new Ronaldinho", Giovani Dos Santos was a prodigy at the Barcelona academy. The Mexican forward joined Barcelona as a 13-year-old and rose through the ranks to make his first team debut as an 18-year-old in 2007.

Despite making 38 appearances in all competitions, Dos Santos remained at Barcelona for just one season before he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in search of regular playing time. Before leaving Camp Nou, however, Dos Santos scored a hat-trick on the final day of the season for Barcelona against Real Murcia to leave on a high.

Dos Santos is arguably the most successful player on this list, having made 107 appearances for his country. Now 32 years old, Dos Santos is without a club after his contract with America ended in 2020. Since leaving Barcelona, Dos Santos has played for eight different clubs till date.

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#1 Bojan Krkic

FC Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao - Copa del Rey

While at the famed La Masia academy, Bojan Krkic emerged as one to watch, scoring a reported 900 goals. The Spaniard went on to star for the Spanish U-17 team as they finished second in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Bojan made his first team debut in the 2007-08 season, breaking Lionel Messi's record as the youngest player to feature in a La Liga match. He became the first 1990s born player to score in the UEFA Champions League and earned the trust of Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola from a tender age.

Since making an explosive start to his career, Bojan has suffered a disappointing decline, with his slight frame working against him in this physical game. The Spaniard left Barcelona in 2011 for AS Roma, but was re-signed in 2013. Despite scoring 41 goals in 163 appearances for Barcelona, Bojan was never good enough to lead the line for the club and left once again for Stoke City.

Now 31, Bojan plays alongside former Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta for Vissel Kobe in the J-League.