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The English press love linking British players with moves abroad, mainly to La Liga. In recent times barely a month goes past without a story linking Wayne Rooney or Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu or Nou Camp, it was the same five years ago with Gerrard and Lampard.
In truth it’s almost all fabricated, a method to sell papers during a quiet week. The hot topic for the tabloids in recent weeks has been the performances of Gareth Bale supposedly attracting the attention of Barcelona.
In the last few years it’s almost unheard of for a prominent British player to move abroad, the last one being David Beckham almost a decade ago. Beckham, who won two trophies with Real Madrid, is an example of a player who made it in La Liga.
However he was certainly not the first, let’s take a look back at a top five of British players of the modern era to have played in La Liga.
McManaman was brilliant in Spain which I don’t think that many people expected. I think he did well partly because he learnt the language quickly like Lineker
David Beckham has to be one of the most limited footballers to ever make it as far as he did. He got to the top of the game by being able to take free kicks and run around a lot.
I think that is a bit harsh, why do you say he was limited? He could do everything you expect of a modern footballer, the only thing he really lacked was the ability to beat players with skill. His abilities with a deadball were just a bonus on top of a good player, that just tends to be the thing he is remembered for. Look up some videos of when he was younger at Manchester United
Not many highlights for Gerry Armstrong there!
Honorable mentions to Steve Archibald? Had to pick up where Maradona left off and is still well remembered by Barca fans.