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Waiting is rather frustrating. Just ask the players who are desperate to make their debut for a new club. It is considered the most important part after the move as it kick-starts their journey at that club.
There are many reasons for debuts to get delayed, but the most common reason is injury. Injuries are an annoyance to players who dream big. But some things have their own pace and this is a challenge they must endure.
Although it might be disheartening, many players have overcome it and succeeded. On that note, we will be looking at five players who made late debuts for their new clubs:
#5 Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is one of the best defenders the world has seen and he spent the majority of his career at Real Madrid. A Sevilla academy graduate, Ramos moved to Real Madrid at the age of 19 when they signed him in 2005.
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He was part of Real Madrid's legacy for 16 long years and is one of the most decorated players in the history of football. The defender has consistently played more than 40 matches a season and his form has remained steady in this lengthy career. With 106 goals throughout his club career, he is one of the few defenders to have surpassed the century mark.
His journey with Los Blancos ended after he decided not to renew his contract. PSG then signed the veteran defender on a two-year contract in July 2021. Last season, Ramos missed more than half the fixtures because of injuries.
The run continued even after joining Les Parisiens and he finally made his debut after four months. He was named in the starting eleven for PSG's fixture against Saint-Etienne on 28th November. Notably, PSG won the Ligue 1 game 3-1.
#4 Fernando Redondo
The Argentine has a solid record everywhere he has played. But that didn't happen at his final club. Making his professional debut at Argentino Juniors in 1985, Redondo spent five successful years with them before moving to Spain.
His first stint for a Spanish club was with Tenerife. The defensive midfielder did not enjoy any success there but obtained the experience for the upcoming part of his career.
Real Madrid signed Jorge Valdano, Tenerife's manager, in 1994. Along with him, Fernando Redondo also made the move that produced one of his best spells with a club. During his six-year stay, he won five trophies, including two La Liga's, the Champions League and an Intercontinental Cup.
In 2000, he was part of a controversial move when Real Madrid sold him to AC Milan. However, in his first training session there, he suffered a serious knee injury that put him out for two-and-a-half years. He made his debut for the Italians in 2002 and could contribute only a little. He retired from football two seasons later due to another knee injury.
#3 Jonathan Woodgate
The English centre-back has had a pretty decent career. It could have been exceptional had it not been for his injuries. Jonathan Woodgate began his professional journey at Leeds United and was termed an all-rounder when with the academy.
However, injuries had other plans and his limited five-year spell ended when the club sold him to Newcastle United because of their unstable financial condition. He quickly became Newcastle's favorite but another serious injury there saw his future go vague.
Having ended his first full season early on, he was surprisingly targeted by Real Madrid, who signed him in 2004. This move was considered surprising because of his injury history, and mainly because he was still injured while the move was completed.
Woodgate did not play the first season. He made his Real Madrid debut after a whole year, and 14 appearances later, another injury setback ended his journey there.
#2 Thomas Vermaelen
Thomas Vermaelen is another centre-back on this list who has had his best period plagued by injuries. Ajax academy graduate Vermaelen was an important player and contributed profusely to the club. Along with winning five trophies there, he also captained his side.
He joined Arsenal in 2009, replacing the departing Kolo Toure. Although he missed almost a whole season due to an injury, he managed to produce a great spell with Arsenal. After five years with the Gunners, he was signed by Barcelona. He was expected to make his debut soon, but repeated injuries delayed it.
Vermaelen had to wait nine months before he could make his debut for the Spanish side. Although he had a trophy-laden period at Camp Nou, his injuries limited his appearances. In 2019, he joined Japanese club Vissel Kobe and is currently in his third season with them.
#1 Wayne Rooney
Even the most successful Manchester United player had his share of the wait before making his debut. One of the biggest talents England has ever produced, Wayne Rooney started his career at Everton. He was a teenage sensation and was already showing signs of developing into a deadly striker.
Manchester United signed him for a sum of £27 million, which was the highest ever fee paid for a teenager at that time. Fair to say, it was worth every penny. Rooney had to wait a month before making his debut. But when he did, all the raised eyebrows disappeared.
Making his debut in the Champions League on 28th September 2004, he scored a hat-trick that made him one of the youngest players in the competition to achieve the feat. In 13 years, he went on to score 253 goals in a Manchester United shirt, surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton's record and is still the club's top-scorer.
