11 Barcelona & Real Madrid Cast-Offs Who Would Win the Champions League

Barcelona and Real Madrid are undeniably the two best teams in Spain.

In fact, they are arguably the two best teams in the world: Most of the footballing universe can list their major players without a second thought.

This year's Champions League has shaped up to make an El Clasico final look a very real possibility.

But what about the players who haven't lasted in the iconic shirts? Could a team of cast-offs from La Liga's big two win Europe's ultimate competition?

Yes, they could.

Here's the list of 11 players sold by either Barcelona or Real Madrid who would win the Champions League. As always, feel free to argue.

Diego Lopez (GK)

There's no shame in being the back-up to Iker Casillas at Real Madrid.

Diego Lopez served his time in that role before a move to Villareal allowed him to blossom in the starting lineup.

After more than 150 appearances for the Yellow Submarine, Lopez is still going strong. His name came up last year in connection with a move to Arsenal, but Lopez has turned in another strong season for an injury-riddled (and financially strapped) Villareal.

Javi Garcia (CB)

Real Madrid have actually gotten rid of Javi Garcia twice.

He was sent packing to Osasuna in 2007 with Madrid retaining a buy-back clause. The next year they had seller's remorse and ponied up the fee to bring Garcia back to the Bernabeu.

The renewed attraction faded once more following a handful of appearances during the 2008-09 season. This time Los Blancos shuffled Garcia off to Portugal where he joined Benfica.

Regular football has seen Garcia grow into a player that is now being linked to clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

A defensive midfielder at Benfica, Garcia is capable of playing center-back and that's the position he would have to fill for our Reject Starting XI.

Martin Caceres (CB)

Martin Caceres joined Barcelona as a promising 21-year-old.

But three seasons with the Catalan club saw him make just more than a dozen appearances and spend two seasons out on loan, first at Juventus, then at Sevilla.

Despite their lack of depth in defense, Barcelona made Caceres' move to Sevilla permanent in 2011.

But Juventus wasn't quite done with the Uruguayan and they came back in for him during the January transfer window. Finally, a loan deal was agreed that sent Caceres to Turin for the remainder of the season.

Since rejoining Juventus, Caceres has proven solid in defense and added a knack for big goals. Two against leaders AC Milan and another against Inter last weekend have made the defender's return a glorious one indeed.

Alvaro Arbeloa (RB)

"Wait a minute," you say. "Alvaro Arbeloa plays for Real Madrid now."

And you'd be right. But back in 2006 they let him leave. That's why you saw him reach a Champions League final with Liverpool in 2007 and that's why I'm claiming him for my cast-off squad.

He's got that CL experience, plus a World Cup championship with Spain, and that gives him all the credentials I need on the right side of my defense.

What can I say? When you're trying to win a Champions League trophy, you take advantage of every loop-hole you can find.

Gabriel Heinze (LB)

A lot of years have passed since Gabriel Heinze inspired Manchester United fans to chant "Argentina" with his play. But every side needs a bit of nasty in defense, and Heinze can still bring that in bushels.

He left United looking for a more regular starting role. He didn't exactly find that during two seasons at Madrid, so he jetted off to win a Ligue 1 championship in two seasons with Marseille.

Now at Roma, he has a regular spot in a side pushing to get into a European place.

If I'm completely honest, Heinze is the weakest part of this team. But even at his career rate of a howler every game or two, he's a better option than the ancient Rafa Marquez or, God forbid, Guti.

Yaya Toure (CDM)

Despite being a solid performer for Barcelona during two La Liga championships and a successful Champions League run, Yaya Toure is better away from the Camp Nou pitch than he ever was on it.

At Manchester City, Toure has emerged into a team leader equally adept at creating chances in the attacking third as he is dictating the game from a more withdrawn position.

Not that Barcelona are exactly hurting in the middle of the field, but they must occasionally look at how Toure has emerged since his departure and think "what if?"

Wesley Sneijder (CAM)

Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder has been snakebitten this season with injury. Having only managed sporadic runs in the team, his form has suffered accordingly.

But this is the player who ripped his way through the 2010 World Cup. Who last May was named UEFA midfielder of the year for 2010. Whose exclusion from the final three in the 2010 Ballon d'Or voting caused Barcelona's Xavi Hernandez to slam the process.

In short, I'll take Wesley Sneijder (injury problems and all) for my team now and be looked at as a genius when it all falls into place.

Rafael Van Der Vaart (CAM)

Rafael van der Vaart spent two years at Real Madrid without ever establishing himself as an every match player.

In fact, he was once so unwanted by the Spanish giant that he didn't even merit a squad number.

But a last minute transfer to Tottenham in August 2010 revived his career. The player repaid Harry Redknapp's faith with a return of 13 league goals and another eight assists in his first season.

Eight more goals this season have kept the player in the good graces of the Spurs faithful. Although rumors are linking him to a move to AC Milan, van der Vaart has stated his desire to remain in London.

Arjen Robben (RW)

Is there a more frightening sight for Bundesliga defenders than Arjen Robben cutting inside from the right wing? Everyone knows what he wants to do and he continues to do it, game after game, year after year.

Robben played a key role in Real Madrid's last league championship campaign before being forced out of the club with the arrivals of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo for the 2009 season.

Robben landed on his feet with Bayern Munich. Despite injuries limiting his appearances, he's managed to net double-figures in goals each of his three seasons in Germany.

Samuel Eto'o (LW)

It looks really strange seeing Samuel Eto'o in a uniform that I don't recognize immediately.

That's what the footballing world has been left with since his departure for a massive payday in Russia.

Inter fans never knew what they had until it was gone as the Nerrazurri have struggled to replace his production during an underwhelming season.

For their part, Barcelona fans will remember the Cameroonian's departure as part of former president Joan LaPorta's worst player move.

The deal sent Eto'o (and several tens of millions of dollars) to Inter in return for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic produced on the field, but never settled in the clubhouse and was loaned back to AC Milan after just one season at the Camp Nou (a move made permanent the next year).

Eto'o, meanwhile, continues to score at every stop on his journey, bagging 53 goals in all competitions during two seasons at Inter, and eight in 12 appearances so far with Anzhi.

Will someone please bring this man back from footballing Siberia so we can watch him every week?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (ST)

Speaking of Zlatan, is there a player who has produced more and still been labelled a flop?

A total of 21 goals and 13 assists in his only full season with Barcelona and he gets run out of town. What gives?

Ibra went back to Italy and in came David Villa. The move had much more to do with chemistry than production. Villa simply fit in better with the Barcelona clubhouse.

The big Swede hasn't let all his movement the last few years phase him. At the moment he finds himself on familiar ground—leading the league and the goalscoring chart in Serie A with AC Milan.

Manuel Pellegrini (Manager)

If we're going to build a Champions League winning squad out of the rejects from La Liga's big two, we can't leave out the manager.

Manuel Pellegrini built a beautifully fluid Villareal side before being tapped to take over at the Bernebeu in 2009.

Domestically, Pellegrini's Madrid stacked up a club record 96 points during the season, but had the misfortune of doing it during the same season that Barcelona won La Liga with perhaps the best team in the history of the game.

Early exits from the Copa del Rey and Champions League—combined with the defect of not being Jose Mourinho—resulted in Pellegrini leaving Madrid at the end of the season.