5 top players who rejuvenated themselves at a smaller club

Moving to a big club and becoming a hit is the dream of every young player in the football world. This is why many youngsters are trying all they can to project their abilities as much as possible and attract suitors from among European heavyweights.

Upon getting signed by these clubs, many go on to enjoy successful spells and make names for themselves across the continent with their brilliant performances. Others, however, fail to make it to the big clubs due to diverse reasons ranging from poor mentality, intense competition and lack of proper guidance.

There are many elite players in Europe right now who couldn't succeed when they initially joined big teams and had to move to smaller clubs to rejuvenate their careers. In this article, we'll be taking a look at five such players along with how they've managed to return to the top of the game. They're as follows:

#5 Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain currently plays for Inter Miami in the MLS

The Argentine didn't flop during his time at Real Madrid but he never stood out amid competition from big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema. It was not until he left the Spanish giants for Napoli in the summer of 2013 that he became an established force in Europe.

Gonzalo Higuain impressed in his debut season with the Italian giants bagging 24 goals and 12 assists in 46 games across all competitions. He made history during the 2015-16 campaign when he scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A appearances, setting an all-time record.

Higuain has become a more recognizable player ever since, representing the likes of Chelsea, AC Milan and Juventus. So far, the striker has recorded 319 goals and 109 assists to his name in 675 appearances in his club career.

#4 Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian has become a Chelsea player once again

Romelu Lukaku joined Chelsea from Anderlecht during the summer of 2011 but couldn't cut it throughout his three-year association with the Blues. Following a successful loan stint with Everton during the 2013-14 campaign, the Toffees decided to sign him on a permanent deal.

It proved to be a great move in the striker's career as he raised his game to an incredible level at Goodison Park. After bagging 87 goals and 29 assists for Everton across three seasons, Manchester United decided to sign him for €74 million in August 2019.

He spent two decent seasons at Old Trafford before leaving for Inter Milan in 2019 where he enjoyed an extraordinary spell. Lukaku made history by leading the Nerazzurri to claim the Scudetto in his second and final year, contributing 24 goals and 10 assists in 36 games. He was rewarded with a big-money return to Chelsea last summer and has already bagged eight goals for the Blues this term.

#3 Memphis Depay

Depay revived his career at Olympic Lyon

The Dutchman was labeled a flop during his time with Manchester United after joining them from PSV Eindhoven in July 2015. He made 53 appearances for the Red Devils, recording six goals and seven assists to his name before leaving for Olympic Lyon midway through the 2016-17 campaign.

Memphis Depay was a huge success with the French giants, bagging 76 goals and 55 assists in 178 appearances in all competitions during his four-and-a-half stint. That earned him a return to a big club, with Barcelona snapping him up last summer.

So far this season, the winger has recorded eight goals and two assists to his name in 23 appearances for the Catalan giants across all fronts. He will definitely add to that tally with many more games to come as the season progresses.

#2 Kevin De Bruyne

The Belgian has enjoyed an incredible spell at Manchester City

Kevin De Bruyne was overlooked by Jose Mourinho during his spell at Chelsea. The midfielder made just nine appearances throughout his two-year association with the Blues, eventually leaving for VFL Wolfsburg in January 2014.

He became an instant hit at the Volkswagen Arena, taking the German Bundesliga by storm with his eye-catching performances. He returned to the Premier League in the summer of 2015 as Manchester City splashed a whopping €76 million on his signature.

Kevin De Bruyne has established himself as among the finest midfielders in Europe, shining as a key figure in Pep Guardiola's team. So far, he's bagged 74 goals and 113 assists for the Cityzens in 288 games across all competitions, winning three Premier League titles and five Carling Cups, among other honors.

#1 Mohamed Salah

Arguably the best player in the world right now

Like De Bruyne, the Egyptian left Chelsea over a lack of opportunities. He joined AS Roma on an initial loan deal in the summer of 2015, which was made permanent in 2016.

A return of 34 goals and 22 assists for the Italians convinced Liverpool to snap him up in a deal worth €42 million in 2017 and that has proven to be a huge masterstroke.

At Anfield, Mohamed Salah has established himself among the finest footballers in the world, bagging 148 goals and 56 assists in 229 games across all competitions so far. He's also won a couple of honors at the club, including the Champions League and the Premier League.