Players who flourished after the departure of a team-mate, including Aubameyang, Fabregas and Aguero

It is never easy playing in someone else's shadow. 

Some footballers in the past have had to play second fiddle to their team's main man, some have had to wait for a colleague to leave before showcasing their ability.

Once a star man leaves, their replacements are often closer than some clubs think, with ready-made successors in their ranks.

talkSPORT has found some classic instances of players leaving a club and their replacement then thriving in the role.

Click the right arrow, above, to see some great examples from across Europe...

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