10 La Liga wonderkids to watch this season

Players from La Liga have been dominating football all around Europe for the last few years.

Part of the reason for La Liga’s continued ability to produce so many good players to export to other leagues whilst keeping a healthy stock at home is because they continually produce great young players.

Last season we saw youngsters like Valencia’s Carlos Soler, Rodri from Villarreal and Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez all break out and establish themselves as genuine presences in the Spanish top flight.

So, with that knowledge in mind, we’ve decided to profile 10 La Liga wonderkids we expect to become recognised around the world as bright young prospects this season.

1. Juan Miranda

Age: 18

Club: Barcelona

Position: Left-back

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 0

It should speak volumes about the faith that Barcelona have in Juan Miranda that they sold Lucas Digne and never replaced him, meaning that the coltish left-back is going to be the Blaugrana’s back-up on the that side of defence this season. He’s a brilliant young talent whose ability helped Barça win the 2017/18 UEFA Youth League.

2. Ferran Torres

Age: 18

Club: Valencia

Position: Right-winger

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 13 (302 minutes)

Last season Carlos Soler was Valencia’s young star in the making. However, despite being just 20 years-old himself, Soler will now have to fight in order to retain that title.

Ferran Torres is probably the brightest talent to emerge from Valencia’s academy for many a year. He was the first player born in the year 2000 to make his debut in La Liga and with his dynamic dribbling and brilliant crossing you can expect him to make an impact for Marcelino’s men.

3. Vinicius Junior

Age: 18

Club: Real Madrid

Position: Left-winger

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 0

Dubbed the new Neymar, Real Madrid spent a colossal fee for him a year ago, so desperate were they to beat rivals Barcelona to his signature (having missed out on the actual Neymar). Now he’s in Madrid and will be looking to step up, and with his dazzling dribbling skills complete with flying footwork, you wouldn’t get against him making an impression – especially if Madrid sign a mobile striker to compliment him.

4. Riqui Puig

Age: 19

Club: Barcelona

Position: Centre-midfielder

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 0

La Masia is constantly producing good passing midfielders, but every so often one comes along that has the potential to be genuinely special. Extended World Cup holidays for the club stars allowed Riqui Puig to feature heavily for Barcelona on their pre-season tour and he took his chance spectacularly, impressing everyone with his vision, passing and most particularly his poise under pressure.

Milan coach Rino Gattuso said he was “spectacular,” and that “even though they [Barca] have players that look like kids, the way they handle the ball amazes me. It’s the beauty of football. It’s like poetry.” This season he will hope for some emergent minutes to remind everyone that for all their great signings, Barcelona’s brightest La Liga wonderkids may well be coming from within.

5. Santiago Caseres

Age: 21

Club: Villarreal

Position: Centre-midfielder

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 0

Villarreal have needed a makeover in midfield for a while and when Rodri departed for Atlético Madrid they were desperate for it. Enter Caseres. Brought from Argentina, he looks a genuinely capable defensive midfielder – a traditional Argentine “no. 5” – whose passing ability matches his tenacious defending; he already has one assist on his La Liga debut in the season opener.

6. Manu Morlanes

Age: 19

Club: Villarreal

Position: Centre-midfielder

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 0

Alongside Caseres at the weekend was the even younger Morlanes. The Spanish playmaker would probably already be a featured name but missed eight months when he was 17 due to an ACL injury. Now he’s recovered and breaking into the first-team and, with his all-around skill-set and physical ability enabling him to play box-to-box, this kid could become a serious star.

7. Unai Nuñez

Age: 21

Club: Athletic Club

Position: Centre-back

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 33 (2942 minutes)

Nuñez played a considerable amount last season, especially once Aymeric Laporte left the club for Manchester City. But it always seemed in a stopgap sense; this is probably going to be the season where Nuñez really establishes himself as the next great, rugged Basque defender to emerge from the hallowed halls of Lezama.

8. Brais Mendez

Age: 21

Club: Celta Vigo

Position: Attacking midfielder

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 20 (950 minutes)

Brais Mendez is a highly sought-after young attacking midfielder. He was being slowly bled into the first-team last season but will be looking to truly establish himself in the first XI at his beloved Celta this campaign. Brais is a classic Spanish left-footed attacking midfielder who, if properly liberated as a no. 10, could be a genuine game-changing force. His performance against Barcelona last season promised much.

9. Fran Beltran

Age: 21

Club: Celta Vigo

Position: Centre-midfielder

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 0

Fran Beltran helped Rayo Vallecano win the Segunda Division last season and now, having moved to Celta Vigo, will be out to help the Galician side achieve greatness. He’s only 5’5 but this diminutive player casts a giant shadow, starting at the base of midfield his tenacity and confidence on the ball allows him to step forward into attacking zones and make the difference with some special passing. If you’re going to watch just one of these LaLiga wonderkids, make sure it’s him.

10. Axel Werner

Age: 22

Club: Huesca

Position: Goalkeeper

2017/18 La Liga appearances: 1 (90 minutes)

Last season Axel Werner was Atlético Madrid’s third-choice goalkeeper as they won the Europa League. This season he’s been loaned out with a view to developing him – after all the inflated transfer market means that Jan Oblak’s €100m buyout clause no longer looks so secure, and Werner could thus be called upon to keep goal for Simeone’s side as soon as next season. He’s a tall, confident stopper who has already repelled an Eibar onslaught to help Huesca to an opening day win in La Liga.

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