Despite the kickoff of the English Premier League, La Liga's prominence has noticeably diminished.
While many fans typically focus on Barcelona and Real Madrid, unfavorable match timings, a lack of marquee matchups, and especially the absence of mega-stars have led to La Liga's waning appeal, causing it to trail behind the Premier League and other major leagues.
This summer, top-tier clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid, amidst their own set of problems, appear more focused on patching up their squads rather than addressing major issues.
In the third year of the post-Messi and Ronaldo era, Barcelona, grappling with La Liga's challenges, and Real Madrid, patiently awaiting Kylian Mbappé, face uncertain seasons ahead.
Barça's Roster Woes
As La Liga's opening draws near, numerous Barcelona players, not sidelined due to injuries or suspensions, will frustratingly watch from the stands due to unpopular registration rules detested by the club's management and fans.
Barcelona's troubling player market operations overshadowed their pre-season preparations. Despite offloading key players, Barcelona only freed up €47.5 million in registration space. Their primary new signing's pre-tax annual salary gobbled up almost half of that.
Currently, only 13 Barcelona first-team players are registered for La Liga. Several major players, following their new lucrative contracts, have become unregistrable.
After cleaning up previous problematic contracts, these are the resulting circumstances. Moreover, La Liga's strict regulations on leveraging have backfired on clubs.
Compounding the misery, two companies that invested in Barcelona couldn't make timely payments this summer, leaving the club short of €95 million.
Given the situation, it's no surprise that Barcelona's reliance on fresh talent from their La Masia academy has become an essential strategy.
In the post-Messi era, young players like Pedri, Balde, and Gavi have emerged as key figures, exceeding expectations and reigniting Barcelona's once-renowned youth system. Furthermore, reserve players have continued to impress during pre-season.
However, as consistent with President Laporta's unpredictable moves, expect some last-minute dramatic squad changes as the transfer window closes.
Real Madrid's Transfer Strategy
President Florentino Perez's consistent transfer approach: be swift and decisive.
Their differing stances on transfer targets Erling Haaland and Mbappé encapsulate Perez's signature style. Following the departure of Casemiro last summer, Real Madrid's midfield began to falter, causing them to fall out of the title race early and miss out on Champions League glory.
In view of the next decade, the acquisition of a player like Jude Bellingham, with an international vision from a young age, would be crucial for Real Madrid.
Compared to Barcelona, Real Madrid's squad reconstruction is nearing completion. Yet, there's a glaring need for a true number nine forward.
With only three weeks left in the transfer window, the world anticipates Real Madrid to finalize a deal with "that man" Mbappé. However, the stronger Mbappé's desire to move becomes, the quieter the Bernabeu seems.
La Liga's Dimming Stardom
Compared to the ever-flourishing English Premier League, La Liga, once the dominant league, has lost its shine, especially post the exits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
While the English Premier League promotes balanced growth, La Liga, dominated by two giants, struggles to find equilibrium. La Liga's introduction of a salary cap has compounded its issues.
Decreasing interest in the iconic El Clasico, once a global spectacle, signifies La Liga's diminished appeal.
To revitalize La Liga, both Real Madrid and Barcelona must elevate their performances and star power. Yet, even with Karim Benzema's departure, neither club boasts of mega-stars that can rival those in the Premier League.
Moreover, the playing style of both Spanish giants isn't winning many new fans.
In the face of these challenges, the future of La Liga hangs in the balance, with its top clubs navigating uncharted waters.
