We’ve reviewed and graded 2015/16’s most exciting young talents to watch in the Netherlands, England, Spain, Italy, France and Germany on Just Football. Now it’s time for us to announce the Just Football 70 Class of 2016/17 – the lowdown on the 70 best young players to watch in Europe this season.
Here’s The #JF70 2016/17 – Spain’s La Liga edition, our pick of the most exciting young talents to watch in La Liga this season….
(NOTE: Criteria for selection = 22 or under as of 1st September 2016 and must not have appeared in previous editions.)
Previously: #JF70 Class of 2017 – Part 1: Netherlands top talents | Part II: Serie A | Part III: France’s Ligue 1
The #JF70 – 10 top La Liga young talents to watch in Spain 2016/17:
Santi Mina
(Valencia CF, 20 years old)
This season could well be the one in which Santi Mina comes to the fore as a leading light for Spanish football.
Short on young attackers, it will come as a welcome relief that a striker in the mould of the Valencia man has come through. Santi Mina blends together sharp, intelligent movement and has natural penalty box instincts.
His finishing needs some improvement in terms of being more composed in front of goal, but the 20-year-old is well on the way to become a star. The sale of #JF70 graduate Paco Alcacer could well hasten the responsibility that Mina plays with too.
Jorge Meré
(Sporting Gijon, 19 years old)
The best product of Sporting Gijon’s wonderful academy since David Villa? It’s a big claim but Jorge Mere is showing all the signs he’s the real deal when it comes to defensive talent in Spain.
The 19-year-old is a great mix of composed, class defending with the ability to mix it up and show his rough, tough side. Mere boasts many similarities to Carles Puyol in how he defends, both with commitment and precise measurement of danger.
Expect the teenager to be a regular, and expect Sporting to face a fight to keep the player despite recently signing a new deal.
SEE ALSO: La Liga #JF70 Class of 2015/16 – our 10 most exciting players to watch in Spain last season
Mikel Oyarzabal
(Real Sociedad, 19 years old)
Not since a certain Antoine Griezmann graced Anoeta have Real Sociedad fans been so excited by a young talent. Many flow through Zubieta boasting great talent, but Mikel Oyarzabal could well exceed them all.
He’s already shown his ability to produce the spectacular, but the 19-year-old is also finding consistency in his game. Oyarzabal is the go-to outlet for his teammates, and la Real’s approach play regularly flows through him. Despite being so young he often finds end product too.
Lucas Hernández
(Atletico Madrid, 20 years old)
Another colossus in defence for Atletico Madrid, the young Frenchman has built himself a reputation of being Mr Reliable when called upon. All the more impressive given his age, and that Diego Simeone is the one who regularly looks to Lucas to step up for the team.
Versatile across the backline, Lucas can feature at both full-back and centre-back. French by birth and featuring for the Under-21s he may be, but Lucas Hernandez is already teasing a call-up to the Spain squad.
Andreas Pereira
(Granada CF on loan from Manchester United, 20 years old)
The man who’s had the honour of scoring in an Under-20 World Cup final (though his country Brazil would go on to lose to Serbia), Andreas Pereira leaves his home in the Premier League at Manchester United for a season of experience in Spain.
An attacking midfielder gifted with fabulous technique, good set piece ability from free-kicks and plenty of flair, the Belgium-born Brazilian faces a big year in La Liga as he tries to show Jose Mourinho and the wider footballing world that he has what it takes to make it at Old Trafford.
“(Mourinho) wants to see how I play in Spain and then wants me to go back and play for him next season,” Pereira told Globo Esporte, and it should be a fascinating year in his development for us to keep an eye on in Granada. (Words: JF)
Pablo Fornals
(Malaga, 20 years old)
Malaga have got in to the habit of giving youth a chance, and Pablo Fornals is the latest to feel the benefits of that.
The young attacking midfielder is a highlight reel within himself, able to produce dazzling pieces of skill and humiliate opponents, but also has the end product in his game to back up the showboating.
Fornals plays with a real flair to his game, and evidently enjoys his football massively. Malaga could certainly do with his incisive passing and ability to unlock a defence this term.
MCFNews| Pablo XII blanquiazul de España
@pablofornals https://t.co/RpULmRDKYo
— Málaga CF (@MalagaCF) May 30, 2016
Marc Roca
(Espanyol, 19 years old)
They might well have a mini-Xabi Alonso on their hands at Espanyol. Marc Roca might not be the quickest on his feet but he reads the game and passes with unbelievable intelligence and range.
Roca is a deep-lying midfielder able to spread play and control games, the latter of which he’ll surely do more of once he matures. Charged with fighting for a place in an experienced Espanyol team it could be Roca turns out to be the surprise up Quique Sanchez Flores’ sleeve.
The manager is already enamoured with a player who needs to be handled carefully. Mundo Deportivo reported in June that Roca had received offers from two Premier League clubs, with a release clause of just €1.5 million for the Espanyol ‘B’ academy graduate.
Mauricio Lemos
(UD Las Palmas, 20 years old)
Already subject of major interest from clubs, particularly Barcelona, Mauricio Lemos made the decision to stay with Las Palmas. It will surely prove an inspired choice too as Lemos becomes a leader in defence and will no doubt improve with the regular minutes he’ll be afforded.
The Uruguayan has been a phenomenon since arriving from Rubin Kazan, playing with both assertiveness and quality. He’s got a decent amount of pace and ability on the ball, but as any Uruguayan centre-back is evidence to he packs plenty of physical power, too.
#3⚽️ #GraciasDios
@udlaspalmasoficial pic.twitter.com/BUcbHo5NTw
— Mauricio Lemos (@MauLemos3) August 24, 2016
Sergi Samper
(Granada CF on loan from Barcelona, 21 years old)
The crown jewel for many years in Barcelona’s academy, Sergi Samper has had to leave to get the minutes he needs to progress.
He had stalled at Barça and lost a degree of his motivation. A shame because Samper is extremely talented and easy on the eye to watch during games. A careful mover in midfield, his head always on the swivel, Samper can pick out audacious passes to help his team in attack but also play it simple and elegant to keep control of games.
Paco Jemez appears, on the surface, at least, to be just the manager Samper needs to make up for lost time.
Marcos Llorente
(Deportivo Alavés on loan from Real Madrid, 21 years old)
Sometimes at Real Madrid they have to go away for a bit before they come back. Marcos Llorente will be hoping he’s the next case like Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Morata.
A loan to Deportivo Alavés could be decisive in Llorente’s formation. It will offer him the chance to play more at a high level but also learn to dig in and grind out wins at the bottom. It’s going to be a character-building spell for Llorente, still only 21, and his energy in midfield will be decisive in the minnows quest to stay in La Liga.
Llorente is gifted on the ball, able to hit decisive passes and also drive forward to support attack, but he’s better tactically than people give him credit for. Llorente’s ability to cover ground and shut out danger is impressive, and he likes to follow it up with a gallop into attack when he can.
Thoughts on our list? Who are the most exciting La Liga young talents to watch in 2016/17 in your opinion? Let us know below, on Twitter @JustFootball using the #JF60 hashtag or on Facebook.
The post From Manchester United’s loan star to the Barcelona wonderkid: The #JF70 2017 – Top 10 best La Liga young talents to watch in Spain 2016/17 appeared first on Just Football.
