New Delhi: The Premier League is widely regarded as the most watched and celebrated competitive league in the world. Many players, signed for significant fees or developed through club academies, are eventually sold after failing to impress in England’s top flight.
While some players are remembered for their brief Premier League stints, others depart and make their mark abroad. Over the years, numerous examples exist of players who found a new home and thrived in a different top-five European league. Let’s take a closer look at some of the top players who flopped in the Premier League but later thrived in La Liga.
Iago Aspas
Iago Aspas (Image via @Actufoot_stats ‘X’)
Iago Aspas, often remembered by Liverpool fans for a particular corner against Chelsea during the 2013/14 season in a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, is a prime example of a player who struggled to make an impact in the Premier League but went on to become a hero in Spain. He scored just one goal in 15 appearances for the Reds before leaving for Celta Vigo.
The Spanish forward has since built a remarkable career. Aspas became a club legend and is the current all-time top scorer for Celta Vigo, with 210 goals in 510 appearances. At 37, he continues to perform at a high level and lead the team. He is one of only four players since the Spanish Civil War to reach this goalscoring milestone at his age.
Diego Forlan
Diego Forlan (Image via @sport ‘X’)
Diego Forlan has earned the highest regard among Manchester United fans when he earned a quicker brace at Anfield to help United beat Liverpool in 2002 but his two-year spell at Old Trafford from 2002-04 was a complete letdown.
Forlan scored 17 goals in 98 games while he showed some glimpses of his ability but he became the legend after he left and rebuilt his reputation firstly with Villarreal but most famously with Atletico Madrid. The Uruguayan striker contributed 190 goals in 325 appearances for both clubs and went on to establish himself as one of the best strikers in Spain. The 45-year-old has currently turned professional tennis player and making waves on the circuit.
Alexander Sortloth
Alexander Sortloth (Image via @Actufoot_stats ‘X’)
Only Crystal Palace fans will remember Alexander Sorloth in England because most don’t remember he ever played in the Premier League. The Eagles parted with some £9 million to sign Sorloth in 2018 and he looked like a fish out of water as he scored just one goal in 20 appearances and spent most of his time on loan in Turkey before leaving in 2020.
Sortloth then rediscovered his form at Real Sociedad on loan from RB Leipzig before joining Villarreal in 2023 where he netted 26 goals in 41 games. In 2024, the 29-year-old made a move to Atletico Madrid and is now a rotation option under Diego Simeone. The Norwegian international has scored 12 goals, providing two assists in 32 appearances and is highly rated in Spain.
Suso
Suso (Image via @Ekremkonur ‘X’)
Another Liverpool player to make the list is Suso. Things didn’t go according to the plan for the winger at Anfield. The talented young Spanish youngster came through their academy and starred in their youth teams but scored just one goal in 21 appearances before leaving the club. After a loan move to Almeria, he was sold to AC Milan where he found his feet but Sevilla is the club where he finally settled in 2020 winning two Europa League titles and totalling 154 appearances for the club in La Liga. Although the 31-year-old has struggled through injuries after moving back to Spain but his time is still viewed as success.
Gerard Pique
Gerard Pique (Image via @goleada_euro ‘X)
Before becoming one of Barcelona’s most decorated defenders, Gerard Pique was a promising but underutilised talent at Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson saw potential in the young Spaniard but with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic firmly established in the heart of United’s defence, opportunities were scarce for him at Old Trafford. Pique’s struggles in the Premier League particularly a difficult outing against Bolton led to doubts about his suitability for English football. However, his return to Barcelona proved transformative.
Under Pep Guardiola, Pique evolved into a world-class defender playing a crucial role in multiple La Liga and Champions League triumphs while also helping Spain secure a World Cup and two European Championships. Wayne Rooney later recalled Pique being “bullied” away at Bolton. The Spaniard made just 23 appearances for United before heading to Spain to make 616 appearances for Barca and 102 times for Spain winning the World Cup, two European Championships and four Champions Leagues.
Can a Premier League flop become a La Liga star? Absolutely! Discover the players who proved their doubters wrong with incredible success in Spain. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
