Page 45 - Soccer360 Issue 107

THE ONES TO WATCH
Soccer 360 picks out five star names who will be under the La Liga spotlight this term.
JULIAN ALVAREZ - ATLETICO MADRID
The £81.5m deal that took Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid from Manchester City caused a few shockwaves in European football. The Argentine World Cup winner has already lifted nearly every major trophy going, but wanted a new challenge and has the quality to help Diego Simeone’s side threaten arch rivals Real Madrid’s dominance both domestically and in Europe.
ENDRICK - REAL MADRID
So much of the talk is about Kylian
Mbappe’s arrival, but another prodigy has
pitched up at the BernabUEeFuA hwasith 18-year- come a long
old Brazilian Endrick expected to follow
in his teammate’s footsteps and become
a global superstar. Endrick is a natural
Champions goalscorer and will addLeagnueeCxutpra weapon
to an already formidable attack.
KYLIAN MBAPPE - REAL MADRID
The deal to take Kylian Mbappe to
Real Madrid finally happened in the summer and there is no doubt about
it: seeing him in a Los Blancos jersey is one of the most anticipated events of this season. The France superstar will surely guarantee that many more great things will be achieved at the club in the year ahead, while he is desperate for that long-awaited Champions League winners’ medal.
DANI OLMO - BARCELONA
One of the standout players at Euro 2024, Dani Olmo has always been an outstanding, technically gifted footballer who until recently had gone somewhat under the radar. That is unlikely to happen at Barcelona, where he arrives as Hansi Flick’s headline summer signing, promising to give that extra bit of dynamism and the ability to deliver at key moments, which the team arguably lacked last term.
LAMINE YAMAL - BARCELONA
Few outside La Masia had heard of Lamine Yamal at this time last year, but he enters 2024-25 as football’s newest superstar talent after his astonishing exploits at the European Championships. He also broke records for Barcelona last term, and all eyes will be on the 17-year- old as he looks to rewrite even more history in the months ahead.
way since
Real Madrid
won the very first
in 1955
GIRONA
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 3rd place RECORD: 25-6-7
MOST GOALS: Dovbyk (24)
LAS PALMAS
LAST SEASON
FINISH: 16th place
RECORD: 10-10-18
MOST GOALS: Rodriguez (6)
A change of manager could be the most impactful call made in Gran Canaria with Luis Carrion facing a first season at the top level after taking Real Oviedo to the final of the Segundo Division play-offs back in June. Sergi Cardona is a key loss, with the left- back moving to Villarreal in what has been a busy summer of ins and outs. Experienced former Netherlands goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen arrives along with defender Scott McKenna and veteran striker Jaime Mata, while there are also some real wildcard arrivals, including former Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie and the much-travelled Adnan Januzaj on loan. After a poor finish to last season, the aim for Las Palmas to earn another year of top- flight football.
KEY PLAYER
Jaime Mata
JULIAN ALVAREZ
Atletico Madrid
ENDRICK
Real Madrid
KYLIAN MBAPPE
Real Madrid
DANI OLMO
Barcelona
LAMINE YAMAL
Barcelona
For a long time, Girona were La Liga’s biggest story of 2023-24 as their sensational form during the first half of
the season led to a most unlikely title bid. They faded slightly towards the end, but Michel’s side still did more than enough to seal Champions League football for the first time in the club’s relatively unremarkable history.
At the risk of sounding ungenerous, Girona’s La Liga season this time around might resemble something of a sideshow as they prepare to compete in Europe’s premier competition. Matching last season’s feat - a task made harder by the loss of key duo Savinho and Artem Dovbyk - will be almost impossible, but they may still have enough to claim a lesser European place.
KEY PLAYER
Cristhian Stuani
DID YOU KNOW?
Lamine Yamal has become the youngest player in Euros and World Cup history to score in a match (16 years and 362 days old).
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