5 players who eventually played for their dream club

Fortunately, for us – and not so much for them – most footballers never get the chance to be at the club of their dreams. In a world where finance now reigns supreme, players hardly ever get to choose where they play their football. However, there are a few lucky athletes who get to don the shirt bearing their favourite crest.Others, while not fans of the club, in particular, do dream of playing for the team due to certain factors – mainly their enormity and footballing prowess. Everyone else, though, either waits to jump ship at the first opportunity or grow to love the club which they play for.We take a look at five players who eventually played for their dream club.

#1 Willian

Willian immediately endeared himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful when he made a U-turn and joined Chelsea whilst on the brink of signing for fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

He didn’t have to do anything else to become a fan favourite, as the snub in itself proved more than enough.

The Brazilian solidified himself as a starter under Jose Mourinho last season, as a result of his industry on both ends of the pitch. This season, however, he evolved into a real attacking weapon, being the only Chelsea player who sparkled during the dark era under the Portuguese coach.

In a December interview with Chelsea TV, the player revealed that it was his dream to sign for the Blues.

“I don’t know how I can explain that moment.

“But I think it was the best moment in my life when I signed with Chelsea because it was my dream to come here, so when I came I was very happy to play for Chelsea and to win titles here.”

#2 Romelu Lukaku

Everton’s Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku, probably wishes he was scoring goals for Chelsea instead of the Merseyside Blues. Lukaku is the one player on this list who never really got a crack at meaningful playing time for his dream club, but he’s still worth a mention.

The forward signed for Chelsea back in 2011, making no secret of his affection for the team and his idolisation of club legend Didier Drogba.

Sadly, he never got a chance to make any sort of impact, and was loaned out to West Brom and then to Everton, before making the Toffees move permanent in 2014.

"I will always be a fan of that club. It's not because I left in the wrong circumstances that feeling disappears. But a footballer wants to play." He would say after leaving Chelsea.

But given his age (22), we shouldn’t rule out a dream return.

#3 Luis Suarez

The Uruguayan striker described his move to Barcelona from Liverpool as a “lifelong dream and ambition." Suarez now forms one-third of the deadliest three-pronged attack the football world has ever seen.

The former Reds’ attacker was an absolute menace during his time in the Premier League and was an Anfield favourite in spite of his unseemly behaviour. His prolific form in front of goal nearly won Liverpool the title two seasons ago, but an unfortunate slip by then captain Steven Gerrard cost them the chance.

Suarez broke many hearts when he quit Liverpool, and he claims to have suffered a lot to make his dream come true.

"I have suffered a lot to end up Barcelona. This is the club where I always wanted to play," he insisted. "I would not leave even if another club offered me three times my current wages.”

Totally believable right?

#4 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo started his senior playing career with Portuguese outfit Sporting CP, but made his name at Manchester United under the strict tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson. After a glittering six-year metier at Old Trafford – during which he won three Premier League Titles and the Champions League – Ronaldo would move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2009.

During his unveiling in front of around 80,000 supporters at the Bernabeu, the Portuguese star declared that representing Los Blancos was a childhood dream which he had finally fulfilled.

"I am just so happy to be here” he told the crowd. “For me, I have made my childhood dream a reality, which was nothing less than playing for Real Madrid.”

Ronaldo, who has been linked with a return to United, recently tried putting an end to the speculation by stating that it was his desire to retire at Real Madrid.

#5 Craig Bellamy

Cardiff-Born Craig Bellamy is a true local hero. The talented Welshman played for big Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester City, but he always yearned to play for the one club he really supported.

Bellamy intentionally dropped down a division in the 2010/11 season to join dream club Cardiff City on loan from Manchester City. The following term, he completed a free transfer to Liverpool, after which he would return to Cardiff, this time on a permanent basis.

Bellamy would later fire his Bluebirds to Premier League promotion, taking the club back to England’s top tier for the first time in over 50 years.

He retired from professional football in May of 2014, with his injury-ravaged body being the main reason, and would return to the team as an academy coach in December of that same year.

Edited by Staff Editor