Real Madrid have concluded the 2019-2020 season as champions, and now the focus is on the future.
Los Blancos wrapped up their 34th La Liga title, officially winning the trophy when they defeated Villarreal on the same night second-placed Barcelona lost to Osasuna. Real Madrid were nearly perfect in their return to the league, winning each of their first 10 games.
Zinedine Zidane still has the Champions League to think about, but Florentino Perez and the rest of the clubs decision-makers will also have an eye on the future transfer market if no signings can be completed this year.
Here are five young players around La Liga to monitor closely.
Granada DM Yan Eteki
Let’s start with a player who hasn’t received much attention this season but is on his way to playing European football in 2020-2021 for surprise team Granada. Yan Eteki was one of Granada’s unsung heroes this season, nailing down a key role in the team with over 1,500 minutes played.
The Cameroon international recorded 1.3 tackles per game and 0.9 interceptions per game, according to WhoScored.com. Just 22, Eteki has a lot of work to do offensively, but he’s an intriguing player who could rapidly develop, especially next season when Granada play in the Europa League. I’d consider him a deep sleeper to watch. He brings a lot of defensive skill to the table, and there aren’t many good defensive midfield options under the age of 23 in La Liga.