{"id":1243627,"date":"2022-01-27T15:44:31","date_gmt":"2022-01-27T15:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1243627"},"modified":"2025-05-21T09:20:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:20:27","slug":"la-liga-premier-league","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/la-liga-premier-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Premier League players you might not have realised are now La Liga regulars"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pleasure probably isn\u2019t quite the word. Yet the sensation that accompanies recalling a footballer who has long since departed your thoughts is probably closer to that than satisfaction. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Whatever it should be called, here are six former Premier League footballers who left your English football’s radar and returned to Spain to make a success of themselves.<\/p>\n

Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad)<\/b><\/h2>\n

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\u2018The best player in Spain.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

It was quite the statement from Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil. Not many subscribed to the idea, but the very fact that it inspired neither ridicule, nor memes, nor derision is a great indication of just how good Mikel Merino has been in recent seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

After two seasons at Borussia Dortmund then Newcastle United, Merino has settled on the north coast of Spain at Real Sociedad. In England particularly, he has spoken about going to war, to battle, to fight \u2013 doubtless he grew from the experience. Even if he was already six foot two (188cm).<\/p>\n

Merino could always play, but that shift in attitude has made him a hellish opponent. Merino was forged a little differently from Spain\u2019s cultivated culture of midfielders \u2013 still, he retains all of their craft. Ranking in the top 10 both this season and last for progressive passes, he was also third for tackles won and eighth for pressures last year. That goes some way to explaining the well-rounded warrior he is. Perhaps the best statistic to justify his quality would be the five La Liga losses Real Sociedad have suffered, as Merino was absent for three of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Alberto Moreno (Villarreal)<\/b><\/h2>\n

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    With characters like Alberto Moreno, his outsized personality makes him both a provider of fun for his fans and figure of fun for detractors. It\u2019s easy to forget that the motorised left-back that never quite made it at Liverpool has endured a torrid time with injuries.<\/p>\n\n

    To his credit, that hasn\u2019t become his defining feature. In fact, he has shown a tremendous ability for reinvention. Initially a striker, then a winger, before becoming a full-back, his Villarreal career is spent mostly in midfield again. Former Arsenal manager Unai Emery has fashioned him into a very effective left-sided presence, where his bursting runs and natural width complement a team of quality central midfielders, as was evident when he raced through the Atl\u00e9tico Madrid defence to finish past Jan Oblak recently (one of six goals and three assists Moreno holds to his name).<\/p>\n

    Despite tearing his ACL and missing much of last season, he did feature for Emery in both the semi-final victory against Arsenal and the final win over Manchester United in the Europa League. After a tricky spell on Merseyside, helping to bring a first European trophy to Villarreal is a satisfying comeback for the sevillano<\/em>. Or at least it seemed that way as he once again laughed joyously at the Red Devils’ disappointment last summer.<\/p>\n