Nicklas Bendtner has signed for FC Copenhagen on a short-term contract, returning home without fulfilling his life’s goal of becoming the greatest striker the world has ever seen.

If Nicklas Bendtner had a quarter of the talent he believed he had, he would have been some player. As it stands, he’s known more for his off-field exploits than what he managed on the pitch.

Bendtner arrived at Arsenal in 2004 as a promising 16-year-old with the world at his feet. 15 years later he finds himself playing in the Danish Superliga having represented seven clubs and scored 113 goals, with 49 assists in 408 games.

47 goals and 22 assists (in 171 games) at Arsenal was his best return for any side for the player who famously signed on loan with Juventus where not one single fan bought his jersey. 11 appearances and no goals in Italy saw him move finally move on from Arsenal to Wolfsburg on a free where he was sacked after 47 games and nine goals.

Spells with Sunderland (30 games, eight goals), Nottingham Forest (17 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists), and Birmingham (46 games, 12 goals, 7 assists) all came before he found himself at Rosenborg where he, perhaps, found his level. 35 goals and 13 assists in just 86 games helped his side to two titles.

Now, Bendtner, 31, talks about his ‘dream’ of playing for Copenhagen, a far cry from the teenage assertions of a boy whose confidence in himself was so high it was literally off the charts.

“When I was 16 and left home, there was a lot I didn’t know about… 15 years later, I can honestly say that it feels even bigger than I dreamed,” Bendtner said.

“I’m not tired of football at all. I am hungry and motivated like never before.

“I know it is a very special opportunity and I will do everything in my power to seize it for the next four months.”

Bendtner’s contract only runs until December.