Five La Liga breakout stars this season

Martin Macdonald

15 Dec 2021 10:36 CST
4 min read

Nico Gonzalez, Barcelona v Atletico Madrid — © ProShots

Over the last few years the Spanish Primera Division has lost a number of superstars which has taken some of the global appeal away from the competition.

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Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and now Lionel Messi have all departed within the past five years, and although the reputation of the league may be damaged, more players have taken the opportunity to get noticed.

At Barcelona in particular, the Blaugrana's hand has been forced to field a number of youngsters due to the current financial situation of the club.

In the 2021/22 season, here are five fresh names who have impressed so far.

Nico (Barcelona)

Nico joined La Masia at the age of 11 and progressed through the age groups to eventually play for Barcelona B and then the senior team.

Like all players to come through the youth system, especially midfielders, he holds a superb command of the ball and is calm under pressure.

As he plays a more defensive, tempo-controlling role in midfield, he has naturally been compared to Sergio Busquets and the Barcelona hierarchy believe that Nico will ultimately take over from the World Cup winner in the holding role just in front of the defence.

At just 19, he has featured in 13 La Liga matches so far this campaign.

Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal)

Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma has been a hit in La Liga in the first half of the season, with his form apparently attracting the interest of numerous clubs from around Europe.

The 24-year-old traded Bournemouth for Villarreal in the summer for around €23 million and has been an instant hit.

Danjuma has scored five goals and created two more in 12 La Liga appearances and has equally excelled in his debut Champions League season, netting four times in six matches as the Spaniards progressed to the last 16 of the competition.

He is a new face in La Liga, and one that has hit the ground running.

Gavi (Barcelona)

At the end of September 2021, Pablo Martin Paez Gavira - better known as 'Gavi' - was called up to the senior Spain national team by Luis Enrique despite his young years. He was selected to make his debut against Italy in the UEFA Nations League semi final on October 6. Spain won the game 2-1.

This made Gavi the youngest Spain international in history at the age of 17 years and 62 days.

And he started again just four days later as Spain took on France in the final of the UEFA Nations League at San Siro.

Like every product of La Masia, Gavi displays a wondrous touch of the ball and poise when in possession. His name has, perhaps unfairly, already started comparisons with Xavi.

Hugo Guillamon (Valencia)

Hugo Guillamon is not your typical Spanish midfielder in that the best part of his game is the defensive side, while he has become adept at some of the footballing dark arts in his career.

Usually a centre-back, he has been deployed just in front of the Valencia defence this season and has been a revelation, helping to sweet things up in that dangerous area in midfield.

His positioning, therefore, is excellent, but he doesn't mind getting involved in the rough stuff either as he is among the top five players in the league for the most fouls conceded.

He was recently suspended for a match, and head coach Jose Bordalas called his lack of involvement "incomprehensible".

Raul De Tomas (Espanyol)

Not every breakout star in a season needs to be a youngster, as Raul De Tomas has proved at Espanyol.

This is actually De Tomas' third season with Espanol but only his second in La Liga, having spent the 2020/21 campaign firing the Barcelona side back to the top flight with 23 goals in the Segundo Division.

He has continued that form into the 2021/22 season as he has scored an impressive eight goals and recorded two assists in 16 matches so far.

His performances earned up him a call to the Spanish national side for the first time.