Jese Rodriguez says it is difficult for youngsters to break through at Real Madrid -- but he hopes to return there and be a success someday.
Jese, 24, came through the ranks at Madrid, and scored 18 goals in 94 games during four seasons with the first team, spent mostly as a back-up to first-choice attackers Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.
In search of more regular starts he joined Paris Saint-Germain for €25 million in the summer -- although that move did not work out and he went on loan to Las Palmas in January.
He told AS ahead of a return to the Bernabeu for Wednesday's La Liga clash that very few players could come through the Los Blancos youth structure and establish themselves as senior stars.
"It is difficult [at Madrid]," he said. "You are young and you want to play. I was 10 years at Madrid. Not all "canteranos" [homegrown players] arrive aged 13, and last four years in the first team. Hardly anybody does that. Raul, Guti, [Iker] Casillas did it. And now those who are there -- Nacho [Fernandez], [Alvaro] Morata, Lucas [Vazquez] ..."
Jese said it was not that he had failed at Madrid, but that in order to progress his career he had needed to move elsewhere last summer.
"It is not that I did not succeed," he said. "I had a year left on my contract, and took the decision [to leave] as I wanted to progress, to play every game. I wanted to improve, to score goals and make noise. I have just turned 24. I wanted regular games and to be able to fight to get into the Spain team.
"I have in my head to return some day. This is the club who gave me the life, the values that I have, humility and the qualities of a player which stand out. I still have it in my head -- what if I were a success at Madrid?"
Those who suspected the former starlet's career path had been affected by off-field activities, such as his music career, had the wrong idea and were jealous, Jese added.
"For sure people have the wrong image of me," he said. "But I say, with all the respect in the world that sometimes people speak from envy. I don't like when people talk, without knowing me personally. I usually don't listen to what they say.
"If I like to do something, I do it. Music is a hobby for me, like going to the cinema or reading a book. I like to sing in my spare time and write lyrics. I don't just like Reggaeton."
Jese's return to his home town club in early 2017 has not gone to plan so far -- with Las Palmas losing all four games since he arrived, and the striker missing a number of chances to score.
"It has been great," he said. "The fans gave me an incredible reception. I am just annoyed as I've had clear chances to score and not taken them. I am angry with myself. Never in my career have I missed so many clear goals.
"My teammates have also had chances. We play very good football but are failing in this. It's strange, and we've lost the four games. I came here to give everything for the club and now this is happening."