5 players you didn't know played for Barcelona

Barcelona's rich history and title-winning pedigree has attracted players from all over the world.

However, all the glamour and fat paycheques that come with playing for Barcelona doesn't always translate to individual glory.

Five players who had forgettable stints at Barcelona:

While several legendary players have plied their trade at the Camp Nou, not all of them managed to shine at the club due to a plethora of reasons.

On that note, let's take a look at five such players who once turned up for Barcelona but had largely forgettable stints.

#5 Ricardo Quaresma

Just like at Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Porto, Ricardo Quaresma failed to shine at Barcelona too.

Ricardo Quaresma is one of those immensely talented players but never really delivered at the top level.

A mercurial player known for insane tricks on the ball such as the rabona and trivela, the Portuguese winger has played for 12 different clubs so far, one of them being Barcelona.

He arrived at the Camp Nou in 2003 with much fanfare but turned out to be a damp squib. Quaresma netted just once in 22 games for Barcelona before a fallout with then-manager Frank Rijkaard proved to be the last straw.

After a solitary campaign with the Spanish giants, Ricardo Quaresma moved on but never really fulfilled his potential anywhere he turned up for.

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#4 Mikel Arteta

Arsenal's current manager Mikel Arteta started his career at Barcelona.

Mikel Arteta has been associated with the Premier League, both as a player and in a managerial capacity, for so long that it's easy to forget he once turned up for Barcelona.

Joining Barcelona's youth ranks in 1997, Arteta failed to progress beyond the club's B-team. Later, the Spaniard turned up for Paris Saint-Germain, Rangers, and Real Sociedad, among various clubs.

However, it was in the Premier League where the Spaniard's career bloomed; Arteta impressed with Everton and Arsenal, making 359 cumulative appearances for both clubs in all competitions.

Mikel Arteta made his name as a fine playmaker with a keen eye for goal, netting 51 times and making 44 assists in his 12-year playing career in the English top flight.

#3 Juan Roman Riquelme

Juan Roman Riquelme was mismanaged at Barcelona.

One of the finest midfielders of his time, Juan Roman Riquelme failed to impress during his short stint with Barcelona.

After arriving from Boca Juniors in 2002 for €10 million, the former Argentina international failed to light up the Camp Nou, scoring only six times from 42 appearances.

Part of that was, however, down to then-manager Louis van Gaal playing him from the wings even though Riquelme was at his most potent in an attacking midfield role.

Riquelme soon rediscovered his best form with Villarreal, showing Barcelona wondering what might have been.

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#2 Maxi Lopez

Maxi Lopez's whirlwind stint at Barcelona fizzled out in no time.

Maxi Lopez was an emergency signing by Barcelona, who sought to replace the injured Henrik Larsson by signing the River Plate forward in January 2005 for just €6.2 million.

The move supposedly yielded dividends, as Lopez netted the winner against Chelsea on his Champions League debut. But that would remain the highlight of his time at Barcelona.

The Argentinian failed to build on that glorious start and scored just once in the next 12 months; of course, his first-team opportunities were limited during this period.

Lopez was subsequently loaned out to Barcelona's domestic rivals Mallorca in 2007 before he was signed up by FC Moscow.

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#1 Thiago Motta

Thiago Motta couldn't fulfil his potential at Barcelona due to injuries.

Unlike the other players on this list, Thiago Motta commenced his professional career at Barcelona in 2001 after coming through the ranks at the club's B-team.

Only 19 at the time, Motta's appearances were limited before injuries wreaked havoc on his time at the Camp Nou, which prompted him to leave Barcelona in 2007.

However, the former Italian star's fitness issues continued even in his subsequent spells with Atletico Madrid, Genoa and Inter Milan before he found a semblance of consistency with Paris Saint-Germain.

For six years, Motta was a key playmaker at PSG, making over 200 appearances in all competitions and winning 18 domestic titles.