'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sometimes the pressure of moving to a big club after intense media speculation and anticipation from the fans can be too much for a player. One bad game is all it takes for the fans to jump ship and join the media in slating your every move from there on out, which is why it's imperative to get off to a good start.
However, the players in this list haven't done that. In fact, they haven't shown any of the class or talent that made their new club want to sign them in the first place, and instead, have endured a torrid time.
La Liga can be a difficult league to get used to, no matter where you're coming from. If you aren't familiar with the teams you're up against, then you're in for a real uphill climb from the get-go. Every side can offer a robust challenge, and it's down to the players out on the field to meet them with the same aggression and tenacity to ensure that they don't slip up.
Without any further adieu, here are five players who were hyped prior to signing for their new clubs but have struggled to fit in.
#5 Malcom
Malcom is a 22-year-old right winger who currently plays for Barcelona. He has also featured for Brazil's U23 side but is yet to make an appearance for the senior squad.
Malcom's lack of game time for Barcelona this season can be blamed on two things: injury and poor form. He has played just 10 matches and started only two, with the rest seeing him being brought on in the second half to play a handful of minutes, simply to give the starters a rest.
His one goal and two assists don't help his cause, either. When he has had opportunities in front of goal, he's failed to deliver, which has cost him his place in a highly competitive Barca side.
Age is on Malcom's side, however, so we could still see improvement from him over the next couple of seasons, with this campaign being dismissed as a mere transitionary stage.
#4 Thomas Lemar
Thomas Lemar is a 23-year-old left winger who currently plays for Atletico Madrid. He has also featured 16 times for France's national team and was present for when they won the FIFA World Cup last summer.
Despite having been labelled a prodigy during his time with Monaco, he has yet to show why he was given that title through his performances for Atletico Madrid. He has had no shortage of game time, featuring in a total of 25 matches, being in the starting eleven for 18 of them.
Yet, just one goal and two assists illustrate how poor he has been so far this season. He's made very little impact overall, despite being counted on to set up goals for the likes of Antoine Griezmann.
Lemar is currently sidelined with an injury that could see him miss the next three games.
#3 Mariano Diaz
Mariano Diaz is a 25-year-old centre-forward who currently plays for Real Madrid. He has played once for the Dominican Republic since making his debut in March 2013.
After Real Madrid re-signed Mariano from the club they sold him to one season prior, the club and their fans were expecting big things from the man who had demolished Ligue 1. However, things have not gone well so far this season for the striker at all.
Mariano has played 11 games for Madrid, starting just one game. Virtually every other game has seen him come on as a late substitute, barely breaking into double figures for the number of minutes played. He has scored just one goal.
It's safe to say Real Madrid have been left ruing the fact they even re-signed him in the first place. Why did they think that his performances in Ligue 1 could be transferred to a league like La Liga, which is considerably tougher? It was a mistake that they will no doubt learn from.
#2 Goncalo Guedes
Goncalo Guedes is a 22-year-old left winger who currently plays for Valencia. He has also played for Portugal 15 times since making his debut in November 2015.
Despite the fact Guedes has featured in 17 matches for Valencia so far this season, he has only netted twice and assisted once. These are not the kind of stats you want to see from a player that cost you £36m back in the summer.
Guedes joined from Paris Saint-Germain and was highly anticipated by Valencia's fans, especially after the time he spent on loan at the club the season before. He did well there but hasn't replicated any of that skill that dazzled fans the first time round.
As a result, Guedes has gone down in many fans' estimation and until he starts to show some signs of improvement, things will only get worse for the Portuguese forward.
#1 Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois is a 26-year-old goalkeeper who currently plays for Real Madrid. He has also featured for Belgium 72 times since making his debut back in November 2011.
Courtois arrived at Madrid after having had a solid final season with Chelsea, as well as a strong World Cup with Belgium, but he hasn't shown any of that at the Santiago Bernabeu so far.
In 24 appearances for Los Blancos, he has conceded a whopping 30 goals, only keeping eight clean sheets. Some might argue that eight clean sheets is still a relatively good number, but for a keeper with a defence as strong as Madrid's, he should be doing far better than he is.
The switch from Chelsea to Madrid was a huge move which may have had an effect on Courtois' confidence out on the pitch, given the great pressure that landed on his shoulders once he arrived.
Let's hope things get better for him though, otherwise, he's sure to be swiftly replaced in the future.
