5 players you didn't know played for Real Madrid

#3 Esteban Cambiasso

Esteban Cambiasso failed to shine with Real Madrid due to limited game-time.

Esteban Cambiasso is remembered for his spells with Inter Milan and Leicester City, but he commenced his European career at Real Madrid.

Cambiasso arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from River Plate in 2002 and enjoyed two trophy-laden years. However, the midfielder never managed to nail down a consistent spot at a Real Madrid side featuring the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos and Raul Gonzalez.

Esteban CambiassoTransfer: Real Madrid to Inter MilanTime at club: 2004-2014Appearances: 420 (51 goals)Trophies won: 15 🏆Rating: 9/10 pic.twitter.com/hisVegtWFa

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) October 8, 2017

Esteban Cambiasso eventually left Real Madrid in 2004 to join the Nerazzurri, where he enjoyed great success over the next decade. The Argentine then helped Leicester City escape relegation in the Premier League, a year before their improbable title triumph.

The former Argentina international retired at Olympiacos in 2017 after two seasons in the Greek Super League.

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#2 Fabinho

Fabinho wasn't given enough time to succeed at Real Madrid.

Fabinho came to Real Madrid Castilla from Portuguese side Rio Ave in 2012 in search of greener pastures.

The Brazilian impressed with Real Madrid's youth team, making 30 appearances in the 2012-13 season, before Jose Mourinho handed him his senior debut towards the end of the campaign.

Fabinho came off the bench in Real Madrid's 6-2 victory over Malaga. He assisted Angel Di Maria for the final goal of the game, but that wasn't enough to convince Real Madrid, who loaned off Fabinho to Monaco.

Fabinho for Real Madrid in 2012/13:1 game14 minutes played17 passes competed1 chance created1 tackle completedShort lived. pic.twitter.com/HIzRmMvQiK

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 12, 2018

Fabinho didn't look back thereafter, as he became the lynchpin in the talented Monaco side that beat Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title in 2017.

Liverpool soon came calling for his services. Since his £44 million transfer to Anfield three years ago, Fabinho has gone on to win the Champions League and the Premier League titles.

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#1 Samuel Eto'o

Rejected at Real Madrid, Samuel Eto'o became a legend at Barcelona.

Every club has 'the one that got away'.

In Real Madrid's case, it's Samuel Eto'o, who went on to shine for their El Clasico rivals Barcelona, much to their dismay.

The former Cameroon legend joined Real Madrid's youth ranks in 1997 but left after a few loan spells with other Spanish teams, making just two league appearances for the Whites.

✅ Back-to-back trebles with Barcelona and Inter✅ More than 400 career goals✅ Africa Cup of Nations x2Don't let the world forget how good Samuel Eto'o was 💪 pic.twitter.com/J0JTVKhCx6

— Goal (@goal) May 5, 2020

His impressive displays with Mallorca prompted Barcelona to land him at the Camp Nou in 2004, and that started the most glorious spell of his professional career.

Eto'o scored plenty of goals and lifted numerous titles, including the continental treble in 2009.

He joined Inter Milan that summer and won the treble again, making him the first and only player to accomplish the coveted feat in consecutive years.