Rony Lopes, the 25m euro Ronaldo: I saw myself playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona

Rony Lopes' career hasn't gone to plan. The Portuguese talent signed for Manchester City at 16, and in 2019 he joined Sevilla in Spain. Now, he's on loan in France with Troyes.

?Sevilla signed him for 25 million euros, but he never broke through or hit the heights expected of him. He was on loan at Olympiacos last season and Nice the previous year.

"Injuries ruined my career," Lopes said to L'Equipe. "They always came when I was getting better and lasted a few weeks. It's always been my hamstrings.

"Nobody could tell me the source of the problem. I've searched for answers for most of my life.

"I saw myself playing for Real Madrid or for Barcelona, or Manchester City. I think I could have got to that level.

"That's the toughest thing. Sometimes I wonder how far I could've gone had I not been injured. I'd love to know."

Rony Lopes blames Lopetegui for his failings at Sevilla

Coach Julen Lopetegui is, according to Rony, the reason why things didn't work out for him in Andalusia.

"I got there and found a coach with whom I only played in the Europa League on Thursdays," Lopes said.

"At the weekend I was left at home, not even with the team.

"After lockdown, Lopetegui told me that I was in good shape, even better shape than the others in my position, but that he'd play the others.

"Once I was with a teammate and he asked them how they were, but nothing to me. I was left wondering what I was doing there."