LaLiga’s Lack Of Spending Has Shown The World Its Rising Stars
Continuing with last week’s words, LaLiga Salary Cost Control is affecting dramatically the competition’s transfers. We are seeing top players like Real Betis’ former captain Canales or Yassine Bounou from Sevilla leave for what are believed to be lower leagues according to FIFA rankings.
On the bright side, we have seen very young talents emerge and break records at very early stages of the competition. Lamine Jamal leads this list of La Liga’s Wonderkids (as the Football Manager video game would call it).
Just a few hours away from the Summer transfer window finish line, we have gone through three game weeks in La Liga and ther
e is a 16-year-old kid called Lamine Jamal who has surprised us all and is receiving on-pitch advisory by Gestifute, George Mendes’ empire.
FC Barcelona, who has struggled financially for the past seasons, broke the record last season with 18-year-old Gavi making his debut and then immediately broke another record with his first international cap.
We all believe that Barça would have never promoted these talents if not being immersed in a financial situation of +€600million debt, however, they have shown resilience and they have shown that the La Masia way still works.
Will this be enough this year for them to go through to the UEFA Champions League knockout stages? Porto, Royal Antwerp and Shakhtar have the answer.
Valencia or Sevilla have also listed some young prospects in this ranking. Colombian heritage but Spanish-born player Christian Mosquera is a very nice project for the Mestalla squad.
At only 19, he has already performed this season with the first team. He made his debut officially in 2022 when he entered the top 10 ranking of youngest players to officially appear in a match for Valencia.
On the other hand, Sevilla has seen how some of last season’s loanees have made an impact and are ready for the main stage. Juanlu has already caught the eye of José Luis Mendilibar and will not be leaving again on loan this season. The clubs’ difficulties in adding new players have opened a window of opportunity for him to establish himself in Spain’s top tier.
Last but not least is the story of Samu Omorodion, Spain’s future in the attacking line. He had a great 2022/23 season with Recreativo Granada (Granada FC’s B team in Spain’s Fourth Tier). At 18, he scored 18 goals in 33 games, and in this campaign, in Granada’s first game back in LaLiga, Omorodion was part of the first XI and scored the only goal for his team against Atletico Madrid in a 3-1 defeat.
It was then when Atletico Madrid activated his release clause of €6 million and decided to loan the player to Alavés, a club that will most likely fight against Granada for safety this season.
Lack of spending can affect television audiences in the beginning as some just want to see names and flashing lights on the pitch, however, for some football lovers, having these young prospects on the pitch is great news for the future of the competition.
