Five Football Manager wonderkids who flopped in real life as Carlos Vela signs new deal
dailystar.co.ukArsenal fans, Carlos Vela is just that Mexican bloke who never really made much of an impression.To Football Manager (FM) players, on the other hand, he was the little genius.
A jinky 2D wizard who could fire your team to back-to-back Champions Leagues in a heartbeat.The prophetic computer game franchise has accurately predicted superstardom for some of the world's finest players over the past couple of decades, but they do occasionally get it spectacularly wrong.Vela, who signed a contract extension with Los Angeles FC this week, fell off the radar following his failed spell in north London despite the fact that he was once tipped (by FM at least) to emulate the great Lionel Messi.Here, Daily Star Sport has taken a look back at five other Football Manager wonderkids who turned out to be a bit rubbish in real life.READ MORE: FM legend turned Arsenal flop Carlos Vela still playing - and will partner Gareth BaleIn fairness to the scouts at Football Manager, everyone and their dog thought Freddy Adu would make it to the top.
The American was dubbed "the next Pele" in 2004 after making his professional debut at just 14-years-old, but just two years later it was obvious he wouldn't be living up to the hype.Following a failed trial at Manchester United in 2006, Adu signed for Benfica, though he featured just 11 times for the Portuguese side before being shipped out on loan.
He spent the next four years nomadically hopping around Europe like a Uni student on his gap year before sealing a move back to America.Drab stints in Brazil, Serbia, Finland and Sweden followed and now, aged 33, Adu finds himself without a club.Can you think of any more Football Manager wonderkids whose careers tanked hard?
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