Every year, there’ll always be a bunch of bad signings no matter how successful they looked like being. This season of La Liga was no different as we take a look at 10 of the worst signings in Spain.
One of La Masia’s big prospects, Cuenca has quickly slipped off the radar and the fact that Barcelona were ready to sell the 24-year-old to Deportivo permanently, says it all.
Cuenca has failed to light things up for the newly promoted side and with just one goal in 27 league games, it looks like the Catalans did well with this particular deal.
Iago Aspas
Aspas was actually a decent striker for Celta Vigo before his move to Liverpool tarnished his reputation greatly as he was one of the flops of last season.
Sevilla still decided to take a punt at him with a loan deal as a backup striker and as one would expect, he isn’t very solid. Aside from a hat-trick in the cup against a lower division Spanish side, Aspas has managed just two league goals in 14 games.
Guilherme Siqueira
Bought for a reported €10 million fee to replace the departing Filipe Luis, Atletico’s Siqueira hasn’t really impressed to the point that fans have forgotten about Luis.
Failing to consolidate his place in the starting eleven despite playing in quite a few games have led to Cristian Ansaldi and Jesus Gamez getting games at left-back. With reports of Luis coming back to the Calderon, it only speaks further about how Siqueira didn’t exactly meet expectations.
Two red cards already this season don’t bode well for the former Granada left back.
Joel Campbell
Joining Villarreal on loan from Arsenal as part of the Gabriel deal, Campbell has seen his game time increase by a lot.
However, he has failed to make any sort of impression despite being touted as a future star a few years earlier. With no goals or assists in 19 games so far, it’s only a matter of time until the Costa Rican leaves both Villarreal and Arsenal permanently.
Didac Vila
Eibar’s injury prone left back on loan from Milan never impressed for the Italians or Real Betis last season. And he hasn’t impressed anyone in the Basque country either as Eibar are all but destined for relegation with Vila failing to make a real contribution.
Felipe Caicedo
Caicedo has been around forever but never really found stability at one club. And it may not be Espanyol either as the forward has failed to produce somewhat consistently when it comes to goals.
Eight goals in 35 games is simply not good enough from the Ecuadorian.
Helder Postiga
Deportivo needed a solid striker to stay up in La Liga after getting promoted but ended up with Portugal’s ageing Postiga.
One goal in 13 games for the 32-year-old says it all as Deportivo are a candidate for relegation.
Douglas Pereira dos Santos
One of the most shocking transfers, Barcelona signed 24-year-old Douglas from Sao Paulo as a precaution to their impending transfer ban with Dani Alves ageing.
What the Catalans didn’t know is that Sao Paulo fans themselves were shocked to see him go to the Nou Camp as he is one of their most average players.
Signed for €4 million plus €1.5 million in add-ons, it looks like Barcelona now know why Douglas wasn’t rated whatsoever with the Brazilian only having one league appearance to his name.
Thomas Vermaelen
At least Douglas was fit and could play. Barcelona shelled out £15 million for the Arsenal captain despite knowing that he would need surgery sooner or later.
As it stands, the Belgian is yet to play an official game this season and may not play at all in 2014/2015 despite being fit now as there are just a few games left in the season which are crucial for the Catalans.
Alessio Cerci
Signed from Torino for a fee of €20m after impressing in Serie A, Atletico’s Cerci failed to make an impression for the reigning La Liga champions.
On the bench and barely given any game time, he clearly must not have done enough in training to change Diego Simeone’s mind despite the steep price tag.
Cerci eventually traded places with Fernando Torres and it looks like his Atletico career is already over before it’s even begun.