David Villa: 5 Reasons His Return Will Put Barcelona Back on Top

David Villa has returned to Barcelona for the first time since his leg fracture in December 2011, according to Reuters with a h/t to The Times of India.

He was welcomed back into the squad and praised by midfielder Andres Iniesta. It is expected that Villa will make his comeback appearance in the friendly match against Dinamo Bucharest.

Villa could make his competitive return in the 2012-13 La Liga season opener between La Blaugrana and Real Sociedad.  

Here are the reasons why Villa's return may place Barcelona on top.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the slideshow.

5. Team Loyalty

According to Goal, Villa receives high marks for loyalty to club. The FC Barcelona website confirms his loyalty to the club and how he has helped in the club's fortunes during a match.

4. Unpredictability

While being unpredictable can hinder a team, it can also help. Villa has the sort of unpredictable brilliance that can change the course of a match in Barca's favor.

According to AS with h/t Tribal Football, Villa contributed to Spain's victory over the Czech Republic in the beginning of 2011. He did that by scoring two goals after the Czech Republic scored one.

The result was a 2-1 victory for Spain.

3. Ability to Maneuver

Villa is able to maneuver around the field with other players or by himself. He is able to use both legs to move the ball and score.

2. Activity During Matches

Villa had 121 shots during the 2011-12 season until his injury in December of 2011. He managed to have 51 shots on goal, as reported by ESPN Soccernet.

Villa started 32 matches and has been used as a substitute in nine of them. He had four assists with 15 fouls served and 19 committed.

The only defects Villa suffered during the 2011-12 season were one red card and two yellow ones.

He can apply pressure on an opposing team's defense during a match, according to the FC Barcelona website.

1. Ability to Score Goals

According to ESPN Soccernet, Villa is a natural scorer of goals whose style tends to be explosive yet elusive and deadly. Before his injury last December (and during the 2011-12 season), Villa scored 18 goals and started 32 matches for La Blaugrana.

The FC Barcelona website reported that Villa is able to score goals on headers, as well.

Conclusion

While Villa is at an age when many football players are about ready to retire, it appears that he'll be around for a while. It remains to be seen what will transpire for FC Barcelona in the 2012-13 season.

Villa will continue to surprise people with his speed and command of the ball. I would like to thank the BR readers for their time in viewing the slideshow.

My best wishes to all of you until next time.