When Klaas-Jan Huntelaar left Ajax for Real Madrid in 2008, he looked destined for big things.
A serial scorer in Holland, "The Hunter" only stayed at the Bernabeu for half a season, scoring eight goals in 13 Primera Liga starts.
Next stop AC Milan, as Real president Florentino Perez went about clearing out the club's Dutchmen and making his own mark in his second stint as president.
Huntelaar scored seven goals in 11 Serie A starts but regularly found himself left out of the team by Brazilian coach Leonardo.
The fact Huntelaar's scoring record was so impressive despite the truncated nature of his spells in Spain and Italy bodes well for new club Schalke, who signed the player from Milan on Tuesday.
This is a player who goes for long spells contributing little to a match, but is lethal when given a scent of goal. 90 league goals in four seasons at Ajax demonstrates this.
Huntelaar was offloaded by the Italians to make room for new signings Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho. It is hardly his fault he has been shunted around by two clubs whose transfer policies are highly questionable, but what the striker now needs is to stay at Schalke for at least two years, play consistently and both parties will reap the rewards.
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