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#3 Juan Mata | Manchester United
Juan Mata is one of the most decorated footballers on this list. The Spaniard has won the FIFA World Cup, Euro, Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, and Copa del Rey in what has been an illustrious career spanning over a decade in England and Spain.
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However, the roots of one of Manchester United's and Chelsea's most memorable players over the last decade can be traced back to the Santiago Bernabeu as Mata is another one of La Fabrica's famous graduates. The diminutive playmaker played for Real Madrid's Castilla side back in 2006 alongside other noteworthy names such as Marcelo and Jose Callejon.
Mata left for Valencia shortly after, where he broke onto the scene as one of the most impressive playmakers in Europe and earned a big-money move to Chelsea. Three years and 135 appearances later, the Spaniard moved to Manchester United under David Moyes, where he's played 268 times to date.
#2 Esteban Cambiasso | Retired
Esteban Cambiasso joined Real Madrid from boyhood club Argentinos Juniors back in 1996, but failed to make the cut at the Bernabeu and moved to Independiente in 1998. Cambiasso then became one of only a few players to be brought back to the capital club after being sold as he impressed profoundly with his displays in Argentina.
The South American spent two years at Real Madrid, helping the club win LaLiga in 2002/03. After playing a bit-part role for the club, Cambiasso ended up leaving once again. He moved to Internazionale, where Cambiasso established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world. He won five successive Serie A titles with the Nerazzurri and played a huge role in their historic treble under Jose Mourinho.
He eventually moved to Premier League strugglers Leicester City towards the end of his career and helped keep them in the division with a string of superb displays for the Foxes. After amassing a whopping 23 major honours in his career, Cambiasso eventually retired after a short stint at Olympiakos.
#1 Samuel Eto'o | Retired
The man who spearheaded Real Madrid's fierce rivals Barcelona to a historic European treble, Samuel Eto'o, was once of Real Madrid's famous La Fabrica. The Cameroonian superstar is one of the best strikers to have played the game and has been immensely successful with the Blaugrana and Nerazzurri, winning the treble with both sides in successive seasons.
Eto'o was part of Los Blancos' youth system in 1997 and played less than 200 minutes for the senior side. After three loan spells across Spain, Eto'o moved to Mallorca on a permanent deal after failing to break into the Real Madrid side, which then led to a €27m move to Barcelona on the back of a couple of superb seasons.
The capital club owned a percentage of his rights at the time, but the striker was keen on a move to their rivals. There was no looking back since for Eto'o, who won honours aplenty from that point.
A former agent once claimed that racism played a role in Eto'o's exit from the Bernabeu, claiming he was forced out of the club due to 'the colour of his skin'. The four-time African Player of the Year himself confirmed this claim as Eto'o said;
"I have always done well. The only explanation is that perhaps the black men in that club were not loved."
Eto'o went on to win LaLiga in his debut campaign at the Nou Camp, and during the title celebrations, he famously shouted the words, "Madrid, cabrón, saluda al campeon!" — which roughly translates to "Madrid, you a******s, bow down before the champions!".
Things could have been very different had the Cameroonian been given a chance at the Bernabeu. After spells at Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria, and others, Eto'o eventually retired in 2019. He remains the only player to have won two European trebles in successive campaigns.
Also read: 5 famous footballers with weird jersey numbers
