FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid fans look away: the most overrated players in La Liga

The 2023-2024 season is coming to an end and, with that, it is time to look back at the players' performances. Several players did not show what was expected of them, so we've compiled a list of the most overrated footballers in La Liga.

At the beginning of the season, there was constant talk at FC Barcelona about 'The Joaos'. Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo started with all guns blazing, they were going to revolutionise the azulgrana team to win everything, but the reality was quite different. The Portuguese defender's performances have plummeted, and he has shown why neither Manchester City nor Bayern Munich wanted him any longer.

One of the most expensive signing in football history, João Félix never lived up to expectations in the Spanish capital. He also disappointed during his loan spell at Chelsea and this season at FC Barcelona, where he has played a secondary role so far.

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Morata has been touted in recent years as the star striker of Spanish football, but the reality is that he has never really shown why. He scores goals, but all too often he accumulates poor goalscoring spells that affect his teams' performances, as he has shown again this year with Atlético Madrid, who may be thinking of selling the striker.

Thibaut Courtois' injury at the start of the season forced Real Madrid to look for an experienced goalkeeper to replace the Belgian. Los Merengues opted for Kepa, but the Basque disappointed, giving the Ukrainian Andriy Lunin the starting berth.

De Paul joined Atletic Madrid from Italian side Udinese in the 2021-2022 season (Transfermarkt). The Argentine has since disappointed, despite his World Cup winning status with the Albiceleste. This season, he has scored 3 goals and provided 5 assists and has made some statements that have not gone down well with the Colchoneros fans.

Since his breakthrough in French Ligue 1 as a striker for Olympique Lyon and his move to Real Madrid, Mariano Díaz has failed to get off the ground. Los Blancos failed to get rid of him until the end of his contract, when he signed for Sevilla, where he is barely playing and has not scored and provided just one assist so far, according to Transfermarkt.

Labelled by many as the best centre-back in the world, the Uruguayan's season has left much to be desired. He has become one of the main weaknesses in Barça's defence, making several costly mistakes, which could make Barça seriously consider selling him in the summer.

RDT, the pseudonym by which the striker calls himself, is undoubtedly one of the most overrated strikers in Spanish football in recent times. With the exception of his first spell at Rayo Vallecano and, above all, his years at Espanyol, his contribution has been nothing to write home about, barely scoring goals and providing assists.

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Jesus Vallejo stood out during his time at Real Zaragoza as one of the most promising defenders in Spain, which led Real Madrid to sign him. However, he never managed to establish himself at the club, who loaned him out on a couple of occasions until he was transferred to Granada, where he has only made three appearances this season (Transfermarkt).

To the surprise of many fans, Pedri has also made this list. The Barça midfielder has unquestionable qualities, but the reality is that the continuous injuries he has been suffering have weighed him down to the point that he is no longer a key player either for the Catalans or for the Spanish national team.

Considered as one of the great stars of North American football, the Canadian has not shown was expected of him in La Liga, neither at R.C.D. Mallorca, his current team, nor before that at Real Valladolid. This season, he has only scored three goals in La Liga, according to Transfermarkt. Disappointing.

One of those former FC Barcelona players who was called 'the new Messi' and for whom Spain went to great lengths to get him to play for 'La Roja'. El Haddadi, however, ended up being an average player who has played for teams like Sevilla, Getafe and, now, Las Palmas without having much impact.

He rose to fame in 2020 by becoming the youngest debutant in the history of La Liga at 15 years and 219 days, and made a big leap in his career by moving to Italy, signing for Lazio and AC Milan. This season Luka Romero plays on loan at Almeria, where he has made 12 La Liga appearances this season, scoring three goals (Transfermarkt).

The French-Tunisian player arrived in the winter transfer window on loan from Manchester United, but the reality is that he has barely made it into Quique Sanchez Flores' plans. Mejbri made just six league appearances and, at 21, still has a long way to go.

Seventeen-year-old Pau Cubarsi's breakthrough at FC Barcelona was spectacular, and he has since grown into a regular starter. Many have been quick to describe him as "one of the best centre-backs in the world" and perhaps that has weighed on him, as his lack of experience at the highest level has become evident in his last few games.

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