Best XI of La Liga Summer Signings
Completing our roundup of the 2014-15 Liga season in Spain, we turn our attention to those who impressed during their debut campaigns at new clubs.
Our Liga XI of summer signings picks out those summer movers who enjoyed a successful season—at least on a personal level but, in several cases, overall with their clubs too. The only criterion for selection is as the title suggests: players bought, on permanent deals, during the summer transfer window.
Loans aren't considered. Nor are those who signed a deal late on last year, such as Nicolas Otamendi of Valencia. Several others made the grade, though, so here's our side, which lines up in a diamond formation.
GK: Sergio Asenjo, Villarreal
1 of 12
Villarreal 'keeper Sergio Asenjo had a fantastic campaign personally, joining the club he had been on loan to in 2013-14, Villarreal.
His campaign ended in dreadful fashion with a torn ACL, the third of his career, but the Yellow Submarine had him to thank many times over during the course of the season, as he showed great consistency in his all-round game.
Aerial balls, one on ones, distribution from his hands and his general work inside the penalty area were all of the highest order. Asenjo rose to Spain's third-choice 'keeper during the season and when back to fitness should arguably be the second choice, given Iker Casillas' unwarranted continued inclusion.
RB: Aleix Vidal, Sevilla
2 of 12
At right-back, we opt for Sevilla's multi-functional outlet down the flanks, Aleix Vidal.
Operating both on the wing and from full-back, Vidal offers great pace and drive from deep areas on the counter-attack, troubling defenders with his direct running in the final third and his ability to attack the penalty area both with and without the ball.
Defensively, he is committed in the tackle and conscientious about his positional work. Naturally, though, he prefers to be heading toward the opposite goal rather than defending his own whenever possible.
CB: Daniel Carrico, Sevilla
3 of 12
Another Sevilla summer signing sits alongside Vidal in the back line: centre-back Daniel Carrico.
Considering he struggled to get a game for lowly Reading in the Premier League, Carrico's loan and subsequent permanent move to Sevilla must have the relegated English side feeling a little foolish. Back in the heart of the defence instead of holding in midfield, Carrico is assured and aggressive, consistent and reliable.
The Portuguese defender has proved to be a great option for them when defending deep with his reading of the game, willingness to make big tackles and decent turn of pace.
CB: Jeremy Mathieu, Barcelona
4 of 12
The other centre-back in our team is Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu, signed at big cost from Valencia but who certainly played his part in the title-winning side.
At the start of the campaign, he was arguably Barça's strongest and most consistent defender, bringing a real physicality to the team as well as acceleration, a committed approach to winning back the ball and an aerial dominance that had been missing at times.
His form fluctuated throughout the campaign, and he was in and out of the side for a spell, but given the quality around him and consequent competition for places, that's perhaps not entirely surprising.
LB: Jesus Gamez, Atletico Madrid
5 of 12
Completing our defensive quartet is Atletico Madrid's versatile Jesus Gamez.
Gamez, signed from Malaga over the summer, played on both sides of Diego Simeone's back four throughout the season, filling in most frequently on the left because of the suspensions, injuries and inconsistencies of Guilherme Siqueira and Cristian Ansaldi.
Not always the most spectacular going forward, Gamez nonetheless played his part for Atleti with strong defensive performances. In the interests of full disclosure, there was a bit of a lack of competition for this spot in the team. However, Gamez clocked over 1,000 minutes of game time for his club in the league this term and was a much more regular performer over the title run-in.
DM: Toni Kroos, Real Madrid
6 of 12
Sitting at the base of our midfield, as he does for club Real Madrid, is World Cup winner Toni Kroos.
The German hasn't been used optimally by Real, there's little doubt of that, but he still puts in performances of great quality on a regular basis. He is consistent and inventive on the ball and protects the defence as best he can—especially in the absence of any regular holding partner beside him.
Kroos' set-piece delivery, incisive balls from deep and the odd goal from outside the box all contributed to his good season.
CM: Grzegorz Krychowiak, Sevilla
7 of 12
The man who picked up our Best Value Transfer award for this season, Grzegorz Krychowiak, cost Sevilla less than €5 million from Ligue 1 club Reims in the summer—another example of fantastic business by the Andalusian club.
A patrolling, controlling presence in the two-man midfield pivot of Unai Emery's team, Polish midfielder pretty much ran the show for Sevilla this term.
He is a real all-rounder, capable of doing everything from winning the ball to distributing cleverly, driving forward from deep and having an impact in the penalty box. He's one of the big winners of the season and will no doubt be another player who eventually earns Sevilla a healthy profit.
CM: Ivan Rakitic, Barcelona
8 of 12
Ivan Rakitic left Sevilla for Barcelona in the summer and has been a total success.
A vital component of the midfield as manager Luis Enrique attempted to change the structure, personnel and overriding tactics of the team, Rakitic was superb in his supplying the front line with possession and joining them from deep to help break the lines of stubborn, or simply packed, defences.
Offering a range of goals, non-stop work rate and no complaints despite frequently being rotated out of the team or substituted, Rakitic has been a perfect addition for Barcelona this term and ended it with a league winner's medal.
AM: James Rodriguez, Real Madrid
9 of 12
At the tip of the diamond is a second Real Madrid midfielder in James Rodriguez, the big-money Colombian who joined from AS Monaco following his stellar showing at the 2014 World Cup.
Rodriguez has settled into the white shirt with aplomb, mixing effectively creative performances with some genuinely vital goals, showcasing his mentality as much as his ability this term. Injuries disrupted him more than once, but he regained fitness and form much sooner than would've been expected by some.
Well on his way to be considered among the game's elite, Rodriguez won our Signing of the Season award earlier in our roundup and is one of those around whom the next iteration of Real's team should be built.
CF: Luis Suarez, Barcelona
10 of 12
Many Liga fans would have opted to give the Signing of the Season gong to Barcelona's Luis Suarez—and there could have been few arguments against it.
The Uruguayan missed the first part of the season after joining from Liverpool, suspended after his biting incident at the World Cup. Once he returned, though, he took up a central position in the attack and proceeded to tear the league to shreds.
His industry, skill on the ball and rapidly improving understanding of playing with Neymar and Lionel Messi saw the goals begin to flow in earnest in the final months of the season. All of Spain and beyond will fear this troika again next term—and don't bet against Suarez hitting a personal best goals tally.
CF: Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid
11 of 12
Left wing at Real Sociedad. Centre-forward at Atletico Madrid.
Diego Simeone must have been impressed with the fleeting minutes Antoine Griezmann saw as a No. 9 for La Real last season because he played that position throughout this term for Atleti to great effect.
The Frenchman took a few months to find his feet and really get to grips with what the team wanted from him, but from December onward, he transformed himself into an alert, predatory poacher in the penalty box who still retains his pace, dribbling and wide play when in buildup mode.
Only Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo scored more in La Liga than Griezmann's 22.
Subs
12 of 12
From the several contenders who were initially under consideration, we have also picked a balanced bench for our XI.
Claudio Bravo, Barcelona. The title winner won the Zamora award, had the most clean sheets and enjoyed a great debut campaign with his new club.
Shkodran Mustafi, Valencia. The Germany centre-back had a slow start after injury and took some time to find his form but improved dramatically as the season went on.
Pablo Hernandez, Celta Vigo. Had a few consistency issues perhaps but was always a threat in the final third.
Ever Banega, Sevilla. The fact he was only just beaten to a starting XI spot by Rakitic and Kroos shows what a good season he had.
Luciano Vietto, Villarreal. Flashes of real quality and came up with big performances against top teams. More consistency and clinical edge required.
Mario Mandzukic, Atletico Madrid. Started very well and ended the season with a dozen goals, though he faded significantly during the second half of the campaign.
Andre Gomes, Valencia. Like Hernandez, he has more to give on a more regular basis but can be pleased with some contributions this term.
