Football Manager can do funny things to your mind. How often have you been convinced that some young player was going to a world beater after signing him in the game, only for him to turn out to be fairly poor in real life?
The examples are endless. Freddie Adu is perhaps the most famous one, with the American failing to have any sort of career of note. Others made it as far as the Premier League, with Yaya Sanogo being one of the worst strikers Arsenal have ever had (and that's saying something).
They are only a couple of players who fall into the category of Football Manager wonderkids who failed to live up to the hype, but it looks as though we might be able to add another fallen brother to that list.
Max Meyer was an absolute monster in the game a few years back, guaranteeing you a star midfielder if you could prise him away from Schalke. There was a strong sense he was going to go the same way in real life, with the German showing a huge amount of promise early in his career.
He was linked with every big club in Europe at one point, with his performance in the Bundesliga as a teenager hinting towards a big future. He even made his debut for Germany as an 18-year old.
His progress stagnated a little bit in his last couple of seasons in Germany, with the player winding down his contract.
Meyer would end up at Crystal Palace in 2018, where his signing was heralded as a major coup at the time. He was also handed a rumoured £170,000 per-week deal.
While it was originally thought he would bring Palace to the next level, it is difficult to say that he hasn't been a massive flop in the Premier League. He had a mixed debut season, and having been a bit part player in the 19/20 campaign, he has not featured in the league for them in this campaign.
In fact, we had all but forgotten he was even at the club anymore.
Max Meyer has left the club by mutual consent.
Everyone at Crystal Palace Football Club thanks Max for his efforts and wishes him the very best for the future.#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSlISB— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 15, 2021
Well, his time in London has now been brought to an end. Crystal Palace have released Meyer from his contract despite the fact that he had six months left on the deal. He is now free to sign elsewhere.
Still only 25-years old, he still has time to live up to the hype. We wouldn't hold our breath.
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