ver the last few years, the La Liga has become a sought after destination for every top footballer plying his trade across the globe. While it is often touted to be a league where the two big teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona are not afraid to splash the cash on the best, the fact that the league has produced some marvellous talent often does not get as much recognition as it ideally should. Year after year, it churns out some unimaginable talent and we cannot be thankful enough to the league for doing so.
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With the new season still in its early stages, we take a look at 5 youngsters from the Spanish teams, who we believe should be on your watch list for the next 10 months.
#5 Inaki Williams – Athletic Bilbao
The 22-year-old player’s rise to prominence ever since making the step up to Athletic Bilbao’s first team has put him on the radar of every top club in Europe. Though the youngster has been deployed on the right wing at the Basque club, he is primarily a number 10.
Williams has shown an ability to wreak havoc in the opposition’s box with his direct running, close control and skill on the ball. He possesses a great footwork and can swirl and swivel his way out of tight positions without great effort, making him a nightmare to deal with for the opposition defenders.
His ability to create space for himself as well as his teammates in the attacking third came to the fore front over the course of the last season and played a pivotal role in his side finishing the season as one of the best attacking units in Spain.
While he might not have been able to put in enough crosses in the box, his tendency to cut inside and have a go at the goal by himself yielded positive results as he scored 13 goals in 37 games across all competitions. Despite being played out of position, the player managed to rake in decent numbers in the previous season and we believe a more central role could bring the best out of him.
#4 Luciano Vietto – Sevilla (on loan from Atletico Madrid)
The Argentine striker’s move to Atletico Madrid at the beginning of the last season did not yield the expected results as he was often restricted to a bit-part role at the club. However, with him moving to Sevilla, a club short on attacking options, on a season-long loan, we expect his fortunes to rise once again.
The former Villarreal man has a fine set of feet and can prove to be equally dangerous with either in the box, as demonstrated in the past. Possessing a low centre of gravity, which enables him to skip past the opposition defenders with ease and incredible pace, the Argentine is often compared to compatriot, Sergio Aguero. He has shown an ability to link up well with his attacking colleagues and is a very good with the ball at his feet.
The industrious attacker likes to hassle defenders, forcing them into making mistakes and helping his side gain an advantage. The major concern with his ability remains his consistency and should he iron that out, there would be no stopping the youngster.
He has begun the new season on a bright note, finding the back of the net on 2 occasions in 2 fixtures so far and will be hoping to put an underwhelming previous season behind him and ensure he lives up to his reputation.
#3 Denis Suarez – Barcelona
The next name on our list is the young Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez, who is making the right noises with his performances for the Catalan giants in the middle of the park. The Spaniard is fluid in his movement, can make a defence-splitting pass and is very tidy with the ball at his feet, forcing coaches and critics to label him as the next Andres Iniesta.
The industrious midfielder played a pivotal role at Villarreal in the previous season as the club finished amongst the top 4 clubs in Spain and also reached the Europa League semi-finals.
Such was his impact at the club that Barcelona, who had sold him only in the summer of 2015 were more than eager to bring him back to the club by activating the buy-back clause they had inserted in their agreement with Villarreal.
The player has not disappointed and seems to be picking up where he left off last season. He has functioned excellently as the player that links up his side’s defence and attack and is believed to feature in the long term plans of Luis Enrique at the club.
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With Iniesta in the twilight of his career, the club have done well to bring back one of the best midfielders in Spain in order to not only afford him time with the side but also help him develop as a player under the aegis of the star midfielder.
#2 Matias Nahuel – Real Betis (on loan from Villarreal)
The 19-year-old Spanish winger, Nahuel, had risen through the Villarreal ranks and is currently on a 2 season long loan at Real Betis with an option to buy for the club. The move is expected to afford him extended playing time in a bid to ensure that his growth as a footballer is not disrupted and the player is expected to become an integral part of the Betis’ attacking unit in the current season.
The diminutive player has been renowned for his attacking abilities and played a crucial part in Spain’s U-19 UEFA Championship victory in 2015 and continued the good work with Villarreal’s B Team as he proved critical to their attacking unit.
However, his transition to the top first team did not go as per the plan as he failed to live up to the expectations in his first season as part of the main squad.
Nahuel possesses great pace and acceleration that is well complemented by his ability on the ball, making him a threat to the opposition. A silky operator who can also function as a number 10 when required, he has showcased an ability to find teammates in critical areas on the pitch and has been likened to the legendary Argentine, Juan Roman Riquelme.
While his performances in the last season might not draw a lot of inspiration, the move to Betis would provide him with an opportunity to express himself as a footballer better and we expect him to shine in the upcoming season.
#1 Marco Asensio – Real Madrid
The former Mallorca midfielder, who is currently with Real Madrid has begun the new season on a sound note after impressing one and all with his performances at Espanyol, where he spent the last season on loan.
An intelligent player blessed who has been blessed with incredible vision and understanding of the game, the young midfielder is expected to become a key member of the Real Madrid side under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane, despite the presence of numerous superstars.
He was Espanyol’s creative lynchpin in the previous season, creating a humongous 66 chances in 34 appearances. An industrious player who possesses the right skill set to bring the ball out of his own defence with good close control and pace, Asensio has showcased an ability to take on his man with the right combination of pace and footballing flair.
The biggest difference between good players and great players is their ability to make positive decisions in decisive situations and Asensio’s decision-making ability is considered amongst the latter, despite the player being only 20 years of age.
He has already featured in Real Madrid’s 2 league games so far and is expected to continue to do so in the season to come, as Zinedine Zidane is believed to be a great admirer of the player. His growth at the club and country level has marvelled a number of fans and critics alike and he could become an integral part of both the units for years to come.
