Can player potential ability go unfullfilled/decrease if not fullfilled?

My example is Adam Clayton who is now 25 in my game and I have signed him for Luton town (who I have brought to the championship). He appeared to have a potential ability of 160 but when I ticked the box on genie scout to show potential attributes, his ability only increased to 126. Does this mean that due to circumstances this player now can only reach a potential ability (PA) of 126?

I have another regen player called Diego Rivero who was unhappy because I tried to sell him and now when I tick the show potential attributes box (PAB) it only reaches 147 rather than 155.

I checked this theory again searching for young players with high potential and I found a regen called Fabio Alberti who has a PA of 162 but when the PAB is ticked he only reaches a PA of 146.

I found this with a number of other players who I have not influenced in the game.

Does anyone know if the PA can go back to the maximum level or if once it goes down it cannot be increased again?

A player has a fixed potential ability (PA). This number cannot change, unless you use an editor.
A player also has a variable current ability (CA). This number will increase if you give him good training, up to a maximum amount equal to the player's PA.
Genie Scout can show you how high Genie Scout expects the CA to be at it's maximum with the player's current amount of training, training facilities, age etc.
If you, however, upgrade your facilities and/or sign better coaches, a player is much more likely to reach it's PA.
Also, as the player you name is already 25, it is unlikely that he will still improve a lot (unless he is a goalie).

If you were signing an outfield player to invest in PA what age would you say would be the maximum you would go for? 24?

I've encountered a lot of these. I've somehow memorized the regen dates of some of the countries and I often check for new regens. There was this regen who had 200 PA shown in Genie Scout, but if you tick the "Show potential attributes" box, he only reaches 160. Why is that? And take note, he has only 1.5 stars in progress rate.

# Tante : I've encountered a lot of these. I've somehow memorized the regen dates of some of the countries and I often check for new regens. There was this regen who had 200 PA shown in Genie Scout, but if you tick the "Show potential attributes" box, he only reaches 160. Why is that? And take note, he has only 1.5 stars in progress rate.

The progress rate you refer to shows how quickly he will progress / develop. If you have 4-5 stars he will progress very quickly but 1-2 means very slow progress.

Players don't always develop for a number of reasons: lack of first team football, poor training, low mental attributes (ambition, adaptability, happiness, etc.). It's part of game I love. A player may be scouted to have great potential but doesn't develop well while others do and it makes it more rewarding when scouting pays off.

So is it preset that some players do not reach their potential? In other words if genie scout says the player will not reach their full potential can this be changed? Can a player who is underdeveloped still develop to their full potential given the right training conditions even if genie scout suggests they can't?

# coneill659 : So is it preset that some players do not reach their potential? In other words if genie scout says the player will not reach their full potential can this be changed? Can a player who is underdeveloped still develop to their full potential given the right training conditions even if genie scout suggests they can't?

No, it is not preset. Genie scout makes an estimation of what they expect the CA to become at it's maximum, looking at the current training + progress rate etc. Due to improving training and using older players to tutor, however, these players are perfectly able to reach their PA.

Only in the rare event that a player is generated at a reasonably high age with a low CA and high PA and low progress rate, it is possible that even with the perfect training and tutoring, he will not reach his PA.