Last summer saw a number of player leave La Liga, for apparent greener pastures in the English Premier League and the German Bundesliga. Heath Chesters looks at why there’s no reason to panic about La Liga clubs losing their latest gems.

HeathISFSanti Cazorla, Michu, Javi Martínez… Just three of a number of players who jumped the good ship La Liga, for bumper salaries with English or German clubs last summer.

We all know the reasons and the debate has rumbled on for a number of years now. Without the more balanced TV money revenue that the Premier League and Bundesliga clubs enjoy, La Liga clubs outside the “big two” of Barcelona and Real Madrid, simply can’t compete financially with the sort of salaries their counterparts in England or Germany, can much more comfortably afford to offer.

Lets put it into some perspective. A club towards the bottom of the English Premier League, makes more from their slice of the TV pie, than clubs like Málaga, Valencia, Sevilla or even Atlético Madrid. With absolutely no disrespect to Swansea City, fairly recent arrivals to the Premier League following a long exodus, they now pack far more financial clout than their arguably more illustrious Spanish counterparts. In modern football, money talks…

Whilst it’s not my intention to offer a rehash of the Spanish TV money debate, we recently reported that there may be some light at the end of that particular tunnel. That may reverse the trend of La Liga players leaving for more lucrative contracts elsewhere, but we’ll need to see it in action, before we can believe it.

The point I’m choosing to look at, even though many commentators in the sphere of Spanish football lament the loss of the latest and brightest in the self-titled Liga de Estrellas (League of Stars), is that there’s a wealth of talent waiting in the wings, ready to fill their boots.

Isco at Málaga, Áspas at Celta Vigo, Beñat and Cañas at Real Betis… All are the subject of strong reported interest from English clubs. The likelihood is that none of them will be gracing the pitches of La Liga next season.

Of course those of us closely following Spanish football will be sorry to see them go. But we also know that there’s plenty of talent emerging here in Spain, that we’ll never run short of the next “stars” to put a twinkle in our eyes. Not only are the youth systems in Spain a factory of talent, ever producing an abundance of quality players, there’s also a wealth of talent making the step up from the lower divisions.

Let’s be honest. Before he made such an impressive impact for Swansea City in the Premier League, most people outside Spain had never heard of Michu. Prior to his exploits for La Liga minnows Rayo Vallecano last season, his very first season in the top-flight of Spanish football, he’d spent his career working his way up the lower divisions with Real Oviedo and Celta Vigo. He was given his chance at Rayo Vallecano – and boy, did he take it.

This season for Iago Áspas at Celta Vigo, is his first in the top-flight, having come through their youth system, three seasons in their B team and one in the first-team in the Segunda. By all accounts, Chelsea and Arsenal are battling for his signature.  Cañas came through the youth system at Real Betis and even as a late developer in football terms, he’s attracting the attention of Swansea City. Meanwhile Beñat, who didn’t make the grade at Athletic Club Bilbao and received his second chance at Real Betis , has since become one of the most sought after midfielders in European football.

These are prime examples of players who’ve worked their way up into the top-flight and certainly, it will be sad for us to part with them, when they inevitably leave La Liga. As our recent Stars of the Future series highlighted though, even ignoring those at Real Madrid and Barcelona, or those already overseas, there’s plenty more young and talented players ready to emerge. Some are already breaking their way into the first-teams at Primera clubs, whilst a few in that list are still with Segunda clubs.

On top of these young players, there’s more players who’ve followed a similar path to the likes of Michu. Players who didn’t cut it at the first time of asking with the bigger clubs, or have simply started their careers in the lower divisions. And this, is part of the beauty of Spanish football. Dig a little through the histories of players at the more modest Primera clubs like Rayo Vallecano, Levante or Getafe. You’ll find plenty of players who’ve worked their way up the divisions, or getting a second chance to make it in the Primera.

This league really does offer players the chance to turn obscurity into stardom. Having followed my own team, Granada CF, up from the depths of the fourth-tier of Spanish football, I’ve had the pleasure of following the trajectory of many current Primera players, as they first plied their trade in the lower leagues, before getting their breaks. Michu was just one of them.

Few of Europe’s top leagues can compare with the rags to riches potential that La Liga can offer. Whilst eighteen of the twenty clubs in La Liga cannot currently match the financial clout of clubs in England and Germany, they’re certainly richer when it comes to polishing players and getting the best our of the wealth of talent, here in Spain. Here, clubs seem far more prepared to give younger players a chance, or players a leg up from the lower leagues. When English coaches complain there’s a lack of quality young players coming through, is that the whole truth, or is it because clubs are more preoccupied with their next imports from overseas?

So remember when you’re reading today’s transfer headlines, as the Premier League and Bundesliga clubs jostle to snap up the latest Spanish gem… there’s plenty more where they came from!

Let us know what you think. Do you agree with Heath Chesters? Do La Liga clubs offer better opportunities for their upcoming talent and lower league players? Tell us about the more obscure players in La Liga that have impressed you.

Share your opinions with @HeathISF via @insidelaliga now!

 

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