The Top 10 Young Spaniards playing in La Liga

The Franchise wrote:Our resident youth and Spanish lower divisions guru, Billy Edwards (twitter: @billyedwards94) takes a look at the top 10 Young Spaniards plying their trade in Spain. Enjoy!

10 – Iñigo Martínez (Real Sociedad)

As you may have expected, this place was one of the most competitive, with talent such as José Campaña, Koke, Jordi Amat, Álvaro Morata, Marc Muniesa, Sergi Roberto and Isaac Cuenca all missing the cut-off point, but Real Sociedad’s 21 year-old centre-back Iñigo Martínez deserves the recognition for the excellent debut season in which he is currently enjoying. As well as earning a quite incredible reputation of scoring goals from his own half, the talented left-footer has established himself in La Real’s defence with a series of composed performances (ignoring last week’s horror show in Mallorca) in an otherwise uninspiring season. Now a regular in the Spain Under-21 side, the Basque centre-back is tipped for a bright future at both club and international level.

9 – Álvaro Vázquez (Espanyol)

Next up is Espanyol’s red-hot striker Álvaro, and what better time to mention the youngster than this, a week in which he has scored a clinical hat-trick to end Cordoba’s cup dreams, as well as halting neighbours Barcelona’s title aspirations with a late diving header in the Catalan derby. Bursting with potential, the 20 year-old was Spain’s top scorer in last summer’s Under-20 World Cup five goals, despite only starting one match in the tournament. An accomplished finisher when confident, Álvaro made a slow start to the season – mainly due to having to overcome to burden of replacing the outgoing Osvaldo – but has come into his own in recent weeks with a typical goalscoring run. Adept in the air and with either foot, he is one of the most complete forwards coming through in Spain at the moment, and growing by the game. Watch this space.

8 – Pablo Sarabia (Getafe)

A product of Real Madrid’s cantera, Sarabia joined Getafe on a €3m buy-back deal during the summer, and is already showing signs of his enormous potential against some of the world’s best teams. On the back of a fine season with Castilla in 2011, he went on to inspire Spain’s Under-19 team to a European Championships title in the summer, being the tournament’s stand-out player with a series of virtuoso attacking displays. Sarabia combines unpredictable technical ability, movement and link-up play with admirable endeavour and work-rate, and although Luis García is hesitant to overplay the teenager star, you would be surprised if Real do not exercise the option to bring him back to the Bernabéu in coming years.

7 – Martín Montoya (Barcelona)

With all due respect to Barcelona’s B team, it’s a mystery how a player with the talent of Montoya is still playing in the Spanish second tier. The young defender began making his name last year with a solid season under Luis Enrique, and went on to star in Spain’s Under-21 success, taking the starting birth in the team ahead of Cesar Azpilicueta. Dependable in defence, a marauding threat in attack and, as you would expect from any La Masia graduate, comfortable on the ball, Montoya opted to stay patient and wait for his chance at the Camp Nou despite interest from the likes of Valencia and Atlético in the summer. However, he has recently shown his pedigree in the first team with a debut Champions League goal against BATE, and you have to wonder just how long it will be until he makes the inevitable jump to the top division.

6 – Paco Alcácer (Valencia)

Goals, goals and more goals, is perhaps the most simple way to describe Paco. At just 18, the young striker possesses an instinct inside the penalty area strikingly similar to teammate Roberto Soldado, a skill that brought home the Under-19 European Championship title for Spain back in August. With La Rojita trailing in extra-time, Paco single-handedly turned the game on it’s head with two clinical finishes in the closing stages. Later on that month he scored his first goal in the Mestalla in a 3-0 friendly win over Roma, only to learn that his father had passed away moments after the game. However, he has shown the strength of character to come back and continue scoring on a regular basis for the B-team, and with an incredible 42 strikes already to his name in the lower divisions since 2009, it is surely only a matter of time before Unai Emery makes the decision to bring Paco into the squad on a long-term basis.

5 – Sergio Canales (Valencia, on loan from Real Madrid)

Canales’ burst onto the scene as an 18 year-old for Racing back in the 2009/10, quickly emerging as one of Europe’s most prestigious young talents and earning a big money move to Real Madrid. However, the youngster’s career has suffered a number of bows since then, leaving on a two year loan to Valencia after featuring sparingly in his debut season for los Blancos. He may currently be out with a serious knee problem sustained in November, but showed further signs of his unique talent in the early stages of the season, as well as in recent matches for Spain’s Under 20 and 21 sides. Fast, strong on the ball and blessed with a delightful passing range, Canales will finally be looking to get his career back on track in 2012, and could even find himself competing with Pablo Sarabia for a place in the Real Madrid team the following year.

4 – Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona)

Having only just turned 17, Gerard is the youngest player to feature on the list, and although he has a lot of work still to do, he could well be the one with the most potential. Already a regular in Spain’s Under-19 side, the blond haired winger debuted for Barcelona’s first team against Mallorca back in November, and has established himself for the second string in the Liga Adelante after making the step up from Juvenil A. Every skill needed to become a top attacking player, Gerard has in abundance, and although a little raw, he is at the best club to grind the talent out of him. Jet-heeled, full of tricks, and a gifted ability to beat defenders all day long, nobody would be surprised to see him grow into one of the world’s leading widemen if he continues progressing at the same rate.

3 – Isco Alarcón (Málaga)

One of the breakthrough stars of La Liga this term, Isco made a controversial move to hometown club Málaga in the summer after growing tired of not being called for Valencia’s first team. However, that had nothing to do with him, after all he had torn apart the Tercera division in the reserves the previous year and performed to a bewildering level for Spain’s Under 19’s. Since then he has slotted into Manuel Pellegrini’s first XI with ease, cementing himself as one of the team’s most important players with performances that must leave Unai Emery ruing his decision not to use him more often. In possession of the ball there are few better in Spain, a skill that has even seen him earn comparisons to Andrés Iniesta and David Silva. Despite all of Málaga’s multi-million euro signings in the last couple of seasons, the €6m capture of Isco may well prove to be the most shrewd.

2 – Iker Muniain (Athletic)

He may have only celebrated his 19th birthday last month, but Athletic Bilbao’s Iker Muniain is something of a La Liga veteran. Nicknamed ‘Bart Simpson’ for his fearless approach, he recently passed 100 first team appearances, and if the first century was good, just think what the next few could have in store. Similar to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Kun Agüero in both his ability and footballing background, Muniain has already taken apart opposition defences virtually by himself and embarrassed players ten year his senior. Over the summer he further enhanced his reputation with an excellent European Championships performance for the Under-21 side, and it’s now surely just a matter of time before his first senior call-up. Could his youthful exuberance come into Del Bosque’s plans for Poland and Ukraine?

1 – Thiago Alcântara (Barcelona)

Just about the most talented footballer in Europe of his age, Thiago Alcântara has in the last year made playing in the world’s best midfield look, almost literally, like a walk in the park. Similar to many others on this list, the Italian-born Brazilian-Spaniard played a central role in the nation’s under-21 success, most notably scoring a sensational free-kick in the final. His exhibition of dominant midfield performances also earned his first call-up to the senior side in the following months. This season the 20 year-old has gone on to force his way into Barcelona’s first team, and with Xavi now approaching his late thirties, his successor looks ready made. With a combination of his midfield partner’s exasperating passing range and the typically Brazilian flair last seen in the Camp Nou by Ronaldinho, the question is; just how good can Thiago become?


http://forzafutbol.com/2012/01/the-top-10-young-spaniards-playing-in-la-liga.html

The Franchise wrote:

1 – Thiago Alcântara (Barcelona)

Just about the most talented footballer in Europe of his age, Thiago Alcântara has in the last year made playing in the world’s best midfield look, almost literally, like a walk in the park. Similar to many others on this list, the Italian-born Brazilian-Spaniard played a central role in the nation’s under-21 success, most notably scoring a sensational free-kick in the final. His exhibition of dominant midfield performances also earned his first call-up to the senior side in the following months. This season the 20 year-old has gone on to force his way into Barcelona’s first team, and with Xavi now approaching his late thirties, his successor looks ready made. With a combination of his midfield partner’s exasperating passing range and the typically Brazilian flair last seen in the Camp Nou by Ronaldinho, the question is; just how good can Thiago become?


http://forzafutbol.com/2012/01/the-top-10-young-spaniards-playing-in-la-liga.html

BarrileteCosmico wrote:The style question is not particularly convincing either. Didn't he play there for a considerable amount of time? Shouldn't he have an easy adaptation? Also, if he needs to adapt to the style, shouldn't he be getting better with time?

Le Samourai wrote:The great players are his current teammates lol.

10 years not 3.....ok ......I was just plain wrong here...dosen't make a huge difference tho.

He plays in the system and his style is perfectly suited to it of course it's going to look easy........why would it not look easy?

Cesc on the other hand has structured a completely different game.....one that has served a him well and will serve him well on basically any other team.

You can't just throw a guy out there and say play this way....not the way you like to play but the way we want you to play and do it immediately.It just simply is never ever going to work.

I'm not suprised that Cruiff is a Cesc fanboy......someone will have to budge eventually but if they just adjust the system slightly for him it will be for the better.

Lord Hispano wrote:I would have put Muniain on top Tbh. Yeah he's been a bit dry in front of goal in the past games despite the clear chances he's had. I think he's just come back from his dry spell. If he can get 7-10 goals by the end of the season then I'd think it would be fair to say he's gotten past the dry spell.

Arquitecto wrote:First, I really really do NOT see at all how Montoya and especially Deulofeu are above Montoya as Sarabia has proven to be more influential in the teams he plays along especially for the younger Espana teams. Montoya and Deulofeu have been doing it in the segunda and don't deserve such praise.


As for the rest, I would put Iker above Thiago, but would completely understand on why he is first. Also, I don't understand how Jese and especially Morata aren't in there.