World Football: Can La Liga Wrestle Back Power from Bundesliga in 2013/14?

It is often said that the best national team in Europe also possesses one of the strongest if not the strongest league on the continent. This seems especially true when we consider the facts that are presented to us.

For the past few years the English Premier League, widely considered the strongest until recently, has been in decline, coinciding with poor national team results. Despite being ranked 15th in the world, as per the FIFA rankings system, they seem hopelessly outgunned by various other nations.

On the other hand, Spain’s Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 triumph have seen the domestic competition, La Liga, become an absolute success, with many of the world’s elite calling Spain their home.

Fact is, fans of La Liga have been lucky enough to witness high-quality, entertaining football week-in, week-out. Not only that, but the league itself successfully produced a crop of world-class players.

However, it may be rash to say that La Liga is the greatest of all the leagues.

The argument that La Liga is now a “two-horse race” between Barcelona and Real Madrid is a notion of the highest gravitas. The idea that no other team apart from the Blaugrana and their rivals from the Cibeles have any chance of winning Spain’s most coveted crown has seen a Spanish exodus.

This summer has seen many of Spain’s homegrown talents shipped out to opposing leagues for different reasons. Many departed in the hope of winning domestic titles, while others went in search of regular first-team football.

For example, Thiago Alcantara, whose transfer was confirmed by the BBC, departed because he failed to crack Barcelona’s first-team lineup.

However, the most worrying thing about this whole saga is the fact that La Liga isn’t just losing ordinary footballers, but world-class superstars.

Roberto Soldado has become the latest of Spanish superstars to leave his homeland (as per Sky Sports), having given up on any hope of winning La Liga.

Atletico Madrid sold Falcao to Monaco (BBC), Sevilla duo Jesus Navas (BBC) and Alvaro Negredo (mcfc.co.uk) moved to Manchester City, Fernando Llorente (Daily Mail) departed for Turin and Manuel Pellegrini (BBC) also left for Manchester. All this occurred in one summer.

And let’s not forget those who made that decision a few years ago—Mata, Silva, Cazorla and Martinez—all of them Spanish superstars who eventually left.

Also, the drubbing of Spain’s “Big Two” at the hands of German clubs surely is the last straw. From this, it is hard to see La Liga as a force to be reckoned with.

However, there is hope.

Real Madrid, a team that prides itself in signing the world’s best, is on the hunt for another superstar in Gareth Bale, as reported by the BBC. That signing, in conjunction with Barcelona’s signing of Brazilian superstar Neymar (as confirmed by Goal) will definitely provide for mouth-watering Clasico clashes.

However, Los Blancos have seemingly undergone a change in policy. Bringing in a mixture of youth and experience with their signings of Isco, as confirmed on the club’s official website, and also Asier Illarramendi, also confirmed by the club’s official website, is a signal of intent that La Liga still has not yet lost its shine.

Tata Martino, who is renowned for his work in developing younger players, will be ready to integrate younger players such as Bartra and Montoya into his team.

So despite La Liga losing its shine, many teams within Spain are constantly linked with moves for world-class players. And with many clubs prepared to nurture their young talents as opposed to letting them loose, it can be said that La Liga is still the world’s best league. The future for Spain is bright!

Follow Cronan on Twitter: @Goal_Intern