Once Real Madrid's dynamic duo, Isco and Jesé, took entirely divergent paths after leaving the club.

Real Madrid, the current giant of football, is the dream destination for many football stars.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Karim Benzema, Iker Casillas, and many other top players have showcased their talents on this sacred ground.

However, the internal competition at Real Madrid is exceptionally fierce, with only a handful of gifted players able to establish themselves, while most players must contend with the cold bench, forced loans, or sales.

In this fiercely competitive environment, the destinies of the former Real Madrid duo, Isco and Jesé, have taken dramatically different paths, evoking considerable reflection.

Isco, once hailed as the "Golden Boy" of Europe, joined Real Madrid from Malaga in July 2013 for €30 million.

In the realm of Real Madrid, Isco gradually grew into a world-class attacking midfielder, making nearly 250 appearances for the team and assisting in winning 19 titles, including 5 Champions League trophies.

However, as a traditional playmaker needing to be the team's focal point, Isco's position within Real Madrid was not secure due to various reasons, including ball-holding tendencies, lack of physicality, and slower speed. Eventually, in August 2022, Isco was ruthlessly shown the exit by Real Madrid.

His time at Sevilla also did not go as planned, but under the guidance of Manuel Pellegrini, Isco found a chance for rebirth at Real Betis and has since become a core player for the team, returning to the peak of his career.

Jesé, on the other hand, embarked on a legendary downfall. Born in Las Palmas, Spain, in 1993, Jesé joined Real Madrid for €14 million in 2013, coinciding with Isco's arrival.

Despite a promising start, a serious knee injury in the spring of 2014, tearing his right cruciate ligament, became the turning point in his career, with subsequent injuries plaguing him.

In 2016, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 but failed to meet expectations, eventually being marginalized within the team for various reasons and even being released prematurely.

Subsequently, he embarked on a wandering journey in his football career, playing for multiple teams. But after being released by Coritiba in Brazil, the 30-year-old Jesé has completely disappeared from the public eye, marking the end of a once-promising career, which is regrettable.

The fates of these two players illustrate the cruelty and unpredictability of the football world.

At clubs like Real Madrid, even with talent, success is not guaranteed amidst intense competition.

Yet, their stories also remind us that with love and perseverance for football, reclaiming glory is not impossible even after hitting rock bottom.