5 players who have returned to their former clubs this summer

#2 Gerard Deulofeu

Barcelona's former golden boy returns to the Camp Nou in a bid to impress

For a player as young as just 23 years of age, Gerard Deulofeu has definitely experienced the ups and downs that are often associated with the game of football. The winger started his career at the Camp Nou after having risen through the ranks at the club. He was one of those youngsters who were expected to take the game by storm. He scored goals for fun and was a player who tormented the opposition with his movement, vision and ability to split the best of defences in the youth leagues.

However, it would be fair to say that the player failed to truly cement his spot at Barcelona as he was first sent on a loan to Everton and subsequently Sevilla, where he impressed in bits and parts. He eventually joined the Toffees on a permanent deal at the beginning of the 2015 season in a bid to establish himself but the move did not yield the expected results yet again.

He was shipped to AC Milan on a season long loan in January 2017 and it was a move that might have proved to be the turning point in his career. During his time at the San Siro, the 23-year-old was a player to be feared. He created goal scoring opportunities at a good frequency (he averaged a goal scoring opportunity every 34 minutes) and also managed to find the back of the net on four occasions.

The player is now back on the books of his childhood club Barcelona as the Catalan giants decided to activate his buy-back clause and the Spaniard might finally get his chance to prove to the world why he belongs amongst the big boys.

While being only 23 years of age, his performances in the recent years have taken a bit of sheen away from his persona and the winger knows it better than anyone else that he needs to grab his opportunities with both his hands or become another prodigy who failed to fulfil his potential.