What has happened to Diego Poyet?

Saw an article here in Cyprus whilst on holiday that he has given up a footballing career and retired from playing football at 24 years old, after failing to find a tesm since leaving Pafos FC in the summer of 2018.

Such a shame

Still cannot fathom this. That half a season in 13/14; the best and most consistent performances I’ve ever seen from a Charlton youngster just breaking in - ahead of Rufus, Parker, shelvey, Gomez, lookman. Absolutely out of this world he was, and only 18. How he has ended up in this position I will never know. 

paulsturgess said:

Still cannot fathom this. That half a season in 13/14; the best and most consistent performances I’ve ever seen from a Charlton youngster just breaking in - ahead of Rufus, Parker, shelvey, Gomez, lookman. Absolutely out of this world he was, and only 18. How he has ended up in this position I will never know. 

Not for me. Poyet was very good for us the time he played, but Gomez was on a completely different level. 

Not sure if we will have anyone as talented as him come through our youth set up again, or at least for a while. A once in a generation sort of player. 

paulsturgess said:

Still cannot fathom this. That half a season in 13/14; the best and most consistent performances I’ve ever seen from a Charlton youngster just breaking in - ahead of Rufus, Parker, shelvey, Gomez, lookman. Absolutely out of this world he was, and only 18. How he has ended up in this position I will never know. 

Can only be his mindset.

As you say the talent was clearly there, so that leaves his desire/workrate. 

mendonca said:

He was a hard worker too. Badly advised by his Dad?

The opposite.  His dad wanted him to stay at Charlton as he was developing so well.

Such a shame to see talent that many of us would love to be blessed with unfulfilled.

It's okay... The truth will come out... Allegedly.

Chris Dickson scored 19 goals in 24 games for Pafos, Poyet's last club. Just to give you an idea of the level out there. 

paulsturgess said:

Still cannot fathom this. That half a season in 13/14; the best and most consistent performances I’ve ever seen from a Charlton youngster just breaking in - ahead of Rufus, Parker, shelvey, Gomez, lookman. Absolutely out of this world he was, and only 18. How he has ended up in this position I will never know. 

I totally agree, one of the weirdest stories in recent football regarding a player’s development that I can remember. Shocking that he was a top, top champ player that half season and easily our star player. To this!? So strange.

Poyet's story only serves to confirm that once ability takes a sportsman to a certain level, it is the mental side that dictates whether they will be successful. When self doubt, over thinking the situation and a lack of playing instinctively takes over, everything becomes a trial and the inclination is to go for safety or even to go missing.

Poyet is the best academy player I've seen come through the ranks for us since Parker, and that includes Gomez. Astonishing to think that this is how it has ended up.

Surprised he hasn't even managed to find something in the lower leagues.

cafctom said:

Poyet is the best academy player I've seen come through the ranks for us since Parker, and that includes Gomez. Astonishing to think that this is how it has ended up.

Surprised he hasn't even managed to find something in the lower leagues.

Huskaris said:

Worst case scenario, surely he should have been able to walk into any League One club, that's what I don't get. To not progress is a very sad thing, but to actually drop backwards is completely bizarre. 

As I say it's all to do with what is going on in his head - and when that goes everything goes. Once that happens the player finds himself dropping down leagues so the desire goes too - one because he is financially comfortable but also because he believes he will never hit the heights he once did. So he retires.

It is the complete opposite of a Jamie Vardy. Poyet is the privately educated son of a former professional footballer and manager as against the lad who was discarded because he was too small and ended up working in a factory and playing part time. The fire was still burning for Vardy because he had a point to prove and continues to do so because he has witnessed what the alternatives were for him. 

cafctom said:

Poyet is the best academy player I've seen come through the ranks for us since Parker, and that includes Gomez. Astonishing to think that this is how it has ended up.

Surprised he hasn't even managed to find something in the lower leagues.

I personally don't think Poyet was fit to lace Gomez's boots. That's no slight on Poyet's ability, but after 5 minutes of seeing Gomez playing you could tell he would go on to be an international player.

He’s a body builder now according to Sols.

Such a waste of talent who seems to have completely lost any real desire to make it in the game. Sometimes making a living is the motivation, there’s no need for that with him. Sometimes due to previous success of a relative, especially a father, they’re not totally in love with the game to make a right go of their own career. Probably a lot of factors come into it, but sometimes no matter how talented someone may well be, they just aren’t cut out for what the professional game requires.