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When La Liga clubs make a marquee signing, it is expected from that player to be one of their best players on the pitch and provide a competitive edge over its rivals.
Sometimes such big-money signings end up disappointing in their debut season. A new club, new management style and troubles adjusting with teammates being just a few of the factors responsible for the same.
Well, such disastrous signings are becoming the norm rather than the exception across European football nowadays, with clubs conducting their transfers the same way a toddler goes through his toys collection, moving on to the next thing if they don't like the first option.
The recently concluded La Liga campaign too has seen a few very big signings struggle in their debut season for their new clubs. Without much ado, let us take a look at:
5 signings who have failed to impress in La Liga this season:
#5 Jasper Cillessen (Valencia)
We kick off our list with a former Barcelona goalkeeper whose disappointing performances made Valencia, who paid €35 million for his services last summer, drop him to the bench in the final games of the La Liga season.
Jasper Cillessen was the first-choice goalkeeper for The Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup, where they finished third and it seems that was the high point of his career as everything has been downhill for the former Ajax star since then.
This season in La Liga, he made 24 appearances for Los Che shipping in 30 goals and only managing five clean sheets. At a time when goalkeepers are known for their passing abilities, at 56.8% pass success, his distribution was poor and he looked unsure between the sticks leading to errors like the terrible clearance at Camp Nou in September which allowed Gerard Pique to score an easy goal.
#4 Rony Lopes (Sevilla)
Sevilla finished fourth in the La Liga this season after an impressive campaign, with a few of its players making it into the team of the season, sadly, their summer signing from Monaco, Rony Lopes wasn't one of them.
In 12 appearances across all competitions, he only bagged an assist, while Wissam Ben Yedder, the player Los Palanganas sent to Monaco in exchange for Lopes, ended up with 18 goals in the Ligue 1.
He has not lived up to his exploits from the 2017-18 season at Monaco and after a hugely disappointing stint at The Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, he has been sent back to the Ligue 1 on a season-long loan with OGC Nice.
At €25 million the Portuguese attacker was the most expensive signing in Sevilla's history and as the 2019-20 season proved, also one of the most disappointing.
Also See: 5 best left-backs in La Liga this season (2019-20)
#3 Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid)
We have seen far too often that young players do take their time to settle down with their new teams and in case of Atletico Madrid's €126 million signing Joao Felix, we can only hope that the best is yet to come.
The 2019 Golden Boy Award winner was brought in to replace Antoine Griezmann, their best player for the last five seasons and thus there were a lot of unrealistic expectations from the player who only turned 20 last November.
There's no doubt Felix is highly talented but despite all that, he could only manage an average display in his debut season at the Wanda Metropolitano. He only had a 78% pass accuracy, created only 0.6 key passes per 90 and for a forward, he only attempted 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes.
In 34 appearances across all competitions, he only scored eight goals and bagged two assists. Well, the good news is, he has time on his side and can still prove himself worthy of his lofty price tag.
#2 Luka Jovic (Real Madrid)
Luka Jovic was one of the most sought after strikers at the end of the 2018-19 season after an amazing campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt and the Serbian national team.
His impressive form was the reason why Real Madrid paid €60 million for his services last summer but it is clear from his performances that the money might well be wasted. With just two goals in 15 appearances in LaLiga this season, which was disrupted by injuries, he has failed to replicate his prolific form.
If reports are to be believed Los Blancos are already looking to sell the player who has become a liability for them especially after Karim Benzema's incredible form for them this term.
#1 Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona)
Well, we knew it had to be Antoine Griezmann at the top of the list, not because he had the worst stats of all new signings in La Liga but because he possesses such a wealth of experience and talent that it was a shock to see him struggle so much at Barcelona.
His €120 million transfer fee is now starting to look like one of Barca's costliest mistakes. He only showed a solid connection with his strike partners Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at the very end of the season and failed to rise to the occasion when the Catalans needed a player to step up as they lost steam in the title race against Real Madrid.
He has failed to earn the trust of his manager and his teammates this season and was very mediocre in the final third. He only generated 0.9 key passes a game, completed just 0.6 dribbles per 90 and could only complete 81.8% of his passes.
The good thing is that Barcelona are still in the Champions League and he has a chance to redeem himself if he can provide some spark in the final third and reduce their dependency on Messi in the competition.
Also See: Top 5 players with the most assists in a La Liga season
