Ebereechi Eze has almost not made it as a football player.
By the time he was 20, the Maestro in midfield was 'used to the feeling' of release.
The will of Arsenal, Fulham, Reading and Millwall wiped him aside.
But now, at the age of 26, he is considered one of the best English players in the Premier League.
His journey has not been easy – but his setbacks clearly made him stronger.
And he is now preparing for a FA Cup final in Wembley Stadium.
The 'not so beautiful part' of Greenwich
Eze grew up in a 'not so beautiful part' by Greenwich in London and first established his love for the beautiful game in a football cage on his estate.
In 2020 he spoke with The Independent: “It wasn't the easiest life and you don't have as much as other children around you.
“The first place we would go after school is to the cage. We would stay there until our parents invoke us, not eating, playing all day and night.
“There was not really anything else to do. But that is where love comes from.
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“You don't realize that it is actually how you learn your profession.”
His talent would eventually distinguish him from many of his colleagues, which scouted Eze by Arsenal during high school.
Arsenal Hartzeer
Eze's time with the Gunners did not last long and he was released at only 13 years old.
The setback left him destroyed – so much so much that he was close to tears the next time he played against Arsenal during his enchantment in Fulham.
He reminded himself of the independent: “I remember that I was crying in my room for a solid week, my mother told me it will be okay but could not get over it.
“Then I went to Fulham and I finally started to enjoy my football again.
“We played Arsenal a few months later, but when I started shaking the hand of the Academy Manager, I started to do it. All feelings came back.”
After a series of failed spells in Fulham, Reading, Millwall, Sunderland, Bristol City and Swansea, Eze almost gave up his dream to become a professional football player and even prepared to take a part -time job at Tesco.
His pure determination, however, helped him to secure a place at Queens Park Rangers.
QPR -Breakthrough
While studying at the university, Eze enjoyed a successful test with QPR and made an impression on the technical director of the club, Chris Ramsey.
He officially signed in August 2016 and made his first team debut five months later in a FA Cup match against Blackburn Rovers.
That was his only senior performance that campaign and he went on loan the next season at Wycombe Wanderers.
There he made 22 performances and scored five goals before returning and regularly for the hoops.
In 112 outings for QPR, Eze scored 20 goals and gave 12 assists.
Then his Premier League dream came out.
Crystal Palace Move & England Debut
In August 2020, the midfielder completed a relocation of £ 17 million to Crystal Palace.
Two weeks later he made his debut against Southampton in the opening match of the Premier League season and scored his first goal – a free kick – a few months later.
Eze soon settled as a fan favorite and became one of the most important players of the club.
The 26-year-old has 38 palace goals and 28 assists to his name from 164 performances.
He also got his first English cap in 2023 as a result of his impressive form.
And now he is appreciated at around £ 60 million, with some of the largest clubs in England interested in a transfer.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham have all shown interest.
Sunsport understands that Crystal Palace is open to let him leave this summer to finance a squadevision.
Last countdown
With his future at the club in the air, Eze will like to end his time in Selhurst Park at a peak by winning the FA Cup.
The international of England once scored to help Palace to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa in the semi-final last month.
And he is ready to start when the Eagles opposite Man City in the final in Wembley.
From the 'not so beautiful part' from Greenwich to Wembley, it has been a whole trip for Eze …
And the best is probably still to come.