Queens Park Rangers starlet Eberechi Eze has detailed his difficult journey into professional football, one that started at Arsenal.
Eze has established himself as one of the Championship's brightest young talents this season with QPR, and there is now talk of a move to the Premier League.
But it wasn't always a success story for the 21-year-old attacking midfielder, in fact, there has been plenty of failure along the way.
The first of his disappointments in football, was dealt by Arsenal at the age of 13.
“At Arsenal I was eight and I was there until about 13," the England Under-21 international said on Sky Sports' Football Show.
"I got released and then went to Fulham (aged) 13-16, got released then went to Reading - I was released at Fulham in the Christmas period and went to Reading until the end of the season.
"I got released there and was stranded, looking for a club.
“Thankfully I got Millwall, done a two-year scholarship there and then they released me.
“I went on trial to...I don’t know how many teams that summer, but thankfully QPR gave me the opportunity and that’s where I am now.”
Eze has racked up 12 goals and eight assists in 37 league appearances so far for QPR this season, and his form has seen him linked with a move to Tottenham.