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Football clubs have their own identities and philosophies. They also have their own distinct style of play and and would have players that fit a particular mold. But at times a top player could arrive at a club and find it difficult to adapt to the new set of tactics or even the new environment.
Players take time to settle down at new clubs. Players could also be fighting personal battles, mental or physical, that might stop them giving their best on the pitch. There are numerous reasons why a player could be underperforming. But sometimes quality just cannot be kept away for too long.
There are a lot of players in the world who would perform much better if they're given playing time on a regular basis. Players need minutes under their belt and a lot of momentum to start playing with confidence.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five players who deserve more playing time next season (2021-22).
#5 Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City)
When Manchester City were looking to sign Ruben Dias last summer, they were looking for a centre-back who could complement Aymeric Laporte. The left-footed defender had already established himself as one of the best in the English top-flight since joining the club in January 2018.
However, a poor display against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-0 loss saw him get replaced by John Stones. The Englishman would then go on to strike up a brilliant centre-back partnership with Ruben Dias. As a result, Laporte got sidelined and started just 14 games in the Premier League all season.
The 27-year-old proved at Euro 2020 just how good a defender he is. Laporte played a starring role in Spain's run to the semi-finals of the continental competition. He is a top quality defender and deserves a lot more playing time.
If that means he has to leave the club, then he should consider it as he is too good a player to be sitting around warming the bench.
#4 Miralem Pjanic (Barcelona)
This is a very tricky situation. Miralem Pjanic was roped in by Barcelona last summer in a swap deal that saw Arthur heading to Juventus. The 31-year-old struggled to find form at the Camp Nou due to multiple reasons.
Barcelona have Sergio Busquets playing in holding midfield and he is still pretty good at his job. He has been one of Barcelona's best players in the last decade and displacing him from the first team is almost impossible.
Another central midfielder, Frenkie De Jong, is an enterprising presence in midfield and is better at carrying the ball and navigating tight spaces than Pjanic. Pedri's entry into the fray pushed Pjanic further down the pecking order.
To sum it up, Pjanic had to get used to a new system and fight for a starting berth against players who were already comfortable with the setup. As a result, Pjanic started just six games in La Liga in the 2020-21 season.
Pjanic was the midfield metronome in the Juventus side that dominated the Serie A under Conte, Allegri and Sarri. There is no shortage of quality there but Koeman doesn't seem keen to tap into it. So it might be best for the player and the club to part ways this summer.
But the fact of the matter is that the Bosnian international has a lot of quality and he has a lot to offer. Now that Allegri has returned as Juventus' manager, the Bianconeri are being linked with a move for Pjanic.
#3 Paulo Dybala (Juventus)
One of the main problems with Andrea Pirlo's team in his only season as Juventus manager was that there was a severe lack of creativity from midfield. Dybala is the one that usually provides that spark for the Old Lady. The Argentinian missed the first few matches of the season through injury.
But he couldn't regain his place in the starting XI after that. Dybala then suffered an injury to his medial collateral ligament and was sidelined for close to three months from January to early April.
He started just 14 games in Serie A last season and came off the bench on six occasions. He scored four goals and provided three assists but could do a whole lot better with regular game time.
The club and the player continue to be at odds over the terms of a new contract. Dybala's current contract expires next summer. The 27-year-old is too good a player to be playing a bit-part role for any club.
#2 Matthijs De Ligt (Juventus)
When Juventus signed Matthijs De Ligt from Ajax for a deal worth €75 million in 2019. The season prior, he had captained Ajax to a domestic double and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League. The youngster had proved his mettle on the biggest stage and it looked like money well spent.
However, De Ligt couldn't hit his stride straight away at Juventus and has eventually fallen down the pecking order. Pirlo relied on the experienced duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci and thus starved De Ligt of minutes.
De Ligt started just 25 games in Serie A. He started as many games only because Chiellini and Bonucci endured bouts on the sidelines through injuries. The Dutchman needs minutes under his belt, especially as he is just 21-years-old and could very well go on to become a world beater.
We need such talent to be nurtured in the best manner possible and De Ligt deserves more playing time in the 2021-22 season.
#1 Donny van de Beek (Manchester United)
Donny van de Beek was one of the most high-profile signings in the Premier League in the 2020 summer transfer window. He arrived at Manchester United amid huge fanfare as he had been an influential player for Ajax over three seasons.
However, the situation that Van de Beek stepped into at Manchester United was a complicated one. Solskjaer just did not have the kind of players who would enable him to play an attacking formation like 4-3-3. He was always leaning towards a 4-2-3-1 with a double pivot in midfield.
Manchester United have two very capable attack-minded midfielders in Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba. Van de Beek had his work cut out trying to displace either player from the team. Both Fernandes and Pogba had impressive campaigns and as a result, Van de Beek started just four Premier League matches in the 2020-21 season.
However, recent reports have suggested that Solskjaer wants to play a more attacking formation this season. The Red Devils are likely to try out a 4-3-3 formation and the 24-year-old could finally get the time he deserves.
Van de Beek offered glimpses of his quality last season but they came far and few in between. With a sustained spell in the starting lineup, he can once again showcase the kind of quality that made him a star at Ajax.
