Finally signing those players you've tracked for years

[412gt]

Let me set the scene, I take over a second division side in Belarus when I notice him in BATE's U19's, they never put him up for loan and he was always out of our league.

A few years later we get promoted and during my second season in the top flight, I was approached by Grodno who were a much bigger club underachieving.

He played well in our first game of the season against his now old team, and I decided I would get his signature if he ever became available.

Something about his stats, his height, the slick blonde hair, the personality and him being a lefty meant it was a no brainer when he handed in a transfer request later in the campaign. His name? Vladimir Braim.

Anyone else got any similiarly obscure tales?

[Platinum]

I dont have any stories from recent FMs yet but I like the idea for this thread! 

Has he performed well for you so far?

[Paddy9596]

I remember managing Fiorentina on fm20, still one of my favourite saves ever on fm, but I had signed Sandro Tonali at the start of my second season, getting in there after his IRL breakout season, hoping he would form the foundation of my team for years to come.

My philosophy of 90% of my saves is to try signing only U18s or established home grown talent, with the eventual aim of playing in Europe with a full 25 man squad of HG or CG talent.

This led me to pursuing Rolando Mandragora, who at this time was still at Juve. Due to the high reputation of Tonali, I had to agree to a £40m release clause to champions league teams, which was quickly snapped up by Inter after only one season. Needing a leader in the middle of the field, and by following the criteria above, Mandragora was an obvious choice.

However, he wouldnt join me, I guess hoping he would still make it at juve. I settled for an 18yo newgen hoping he would grow into my plans but who, as I cant remember his name, I'm guessing never lived up to my expectations.

After two more seasons, bringing me to my fifth season in florence and with european football now common for the club, I finally got Mandragora, who went on to quickly become club captain, maybe out of a sense of accomplishment from myself.

My favourite memory of his time at the club however, was when he scored in 17 consecutive games, starting with a season opener, with every goal coming from the spot.