La Liga

FIVE years ago, Gary Neville’s managerial career ended before it had ever really begun.The Manchester United legend had talked the talk as a pundit on Sky Sports, impressing figures in football with his level of analysis.
Gary Neville tried to field a defensive minded side against Barcelona
The Englishman, 46, was humiliated by BarcelonaCredit: EPA
So when he was awarded the chance to take charge of Valencia by pal Peter Lim in December 2015, it seemed an intriguing proposition.
What followed, however, was a disaster, as the basket case LaLiga side started to come apart at the seams.
Predecessor Nuno Espirito Santo had resigned following internal tensions, despite having secured a place in the top four the season before.
But Neville, 46, wouldn’t have anything like that success – failing to win any of his first NINE LaLiga matches in charge.
Club legend Santiago Canizares recently accused Neville of treating his opportunity to coach Valencia as a ‘joke’ while speaking to the Mirror.
And his tenure would would reach its lowest ebb in February 2016, when his side were trounced 7-0 by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg – with Lionel Messi bagging a hat-trick and Luis Suarez netting four as Luis Enrique’s side ran riot.
Neville would be sacked the following month, eventually returning to Sky and taking a hands-on approach to his ownership of Salford City.
But whatever happened to those that were out on the pitch that sorry night? SunSport takes a look, five years on from Neville’s departure.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were allowed to run riot on the nightCredit: AFP
Brothers Gary and Phil had a difficult time at ValenciaCredit: AP:Associated Press
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MAT RYAN
Aussie Mat Ryan is well known to Premier League fans, having turned out 122 times in the competition for Brighton and most recently, Arsenal.
The stopper wasn’t really first choice at Mestalla, but found himself thrown in due to regular No1 Diego Alves’ woes that season.
Ryan, 28, would go on to sign for Genk on loan before joining the Seagulls in 2017, for whom he enjoyed moderate success until being ousted by Robert Sanchez this season – subsequently penning a temporary deal with the Gunners in January to deputise for Bernd Leno.
Mat Ryan now turns out for Arsenal as back-up to Bernd LenoCredit: AFP
ANTONIO BARRAGAN
Full-back Antonio Barragan had been at Valencia since 2011, but was on his last legs at Mestalla by the time Neville arrived.
In and out of the team, the Spaniard found himself sharing duties with up and coming star Joao Cancelo (more on him later).
Just a few months after this horror show he joined Middlesbrough, suffering relegation in his first season before spending two years at Real Betis and joining Elche last summer, where he currently turns out aged 33.
Antonio Barragan was relegated with Middlesbrough in 2017Credit: PA:Press Association
ADERLLAN SANTOS
Imposing 6ft 4in centre-back Aderllan Santos joined Valencia from Braga for £8.1million the previous summer, but failed to make a positive impact in Spain.
The bumbling Brazilian was bamboozled time and time again by Suarez and Messi, and would only play 15 times for Valencia the following season before being shipped out.
After loans at Sao Paulo and Vitoria, Santos moved east to join Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, but at 31 he has since returned to Europe, now playing for Rio Ave in Portugal.
Aderllan Santos was ripped to pieces by fellow South American Luis SuarezCredit: Reuters
SHKODRAN MUSTAFI
Shkodran Mustafi endured the sort of horror show that Arsenal fans would come to know when he joined the Gunners just a few months later.
The German clumsily conceded a penalty on the night for a late challenge that also saw him red carded – but he still commanded a hefty £35million fee from North London.
Mustafi, 28, would make 151 error-strewn appearances for the Gunners, before joining hapless Schalke in January, with whom he has yet to win a game in six outings.
Shkodran Mustafi was sent off on the stroke of half-timeCredit: EPA
JOSE GAYA
Homegrown star Jose Gaya is the lone survivor of this match within the current Valencia team, and has also won 13 Spain caps.
The talented left-back was one of the few players not up for grabs during last summer’s fire-sale, as Los Che desperately sought out funds having got themselves into a financial mess.
Gaya, 25, now captains the club, who sit 12th in LaLiga under former Watford boss Javi Gracia.
Jose Gaya now skippers his boyhood clubCredit: Rex
JOAO CANCELO
Normally considered a right-back, then-21-year-old Joao Cancelo was deployed at right midfield as Neville attempted to shut up shop against his side’s esteemed opponents.
While this was a night to forget for the Portuguese, he has gone on to forge a fantastic career for himself.
Following a loan spell at Inter Milan, he joined Juventus for £35million in 2018, before earning a stunning £60m switch to Manchester City, for whom he now stars and looks set to win a Premier League title with.
Joao Cancelo has gone to great things at Man CityCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
DANILO BARBOSA
Young midfielder Danilo was included against Barca to add some steel to the midfield alongside players with a little more guile.
The Brazilian was on loan at Valencia at the time, and didn’t win a permanent move following his underwhelming spell.
After brief, unsuccessful stints at Benfica and Standard Liege he moved to Nice in 2018, for whom he has played for 49 times, before being loaned back to his homeland with Palmeiras earlier this year.
Danilo Barbosa has played 49 times for NiceCredit: AFP
DANI PAREJO
Former QPR loanee Dani Parejo was a colossus for Valencia during his nine years with the club.
It would end in tears, quite literally, in 2020, however, when Parejo was forced to move to rivals Villarreal during Lim’s fire sale.
Parejo, 31, was moved to tears when he explained talking through the move with his son, who had only known Valencia during his young life.
Parejo: “Dani (his son) asked me “why are you changing team?”, because it has always been Valencia with him. I told him that that’s what football is like. It’s sad (then he breaks down crying). At the end, kids will be kids”.Jesus, this is tough to seepic.twitter.com/2V5zDc7URT— Jonas Giæver (@CheGiaevara) August 12, 2020

Dani Parejo now plays for bitter rivals VillarrealCredit: Rex
ANDRE GOMES
This match wasn’t such a disaster for Andre Gomes, as he earned a move to Barcelona the following summer.
The elegant Portuguese midfielder struggled to adapt to life at such a big club, however, failing to impress during his 78 appearances for the club.
After managing to pick up a LaLiga title and, ironically, two Copa del Reys, Gomes moved to Everton in 2018, where he still plays aged 27.
Andre Gomes signed for Barcelona just five months after being humiliated by themCredit: Reuters
GUILHERME SIQUEIRA
Like Cancelo, Siqueira was a full-back drafted in to play further forward as Neville tried and failed to shore up his side defensively.
The 34-year-old harbours no ill will towards his former manager, however, telling The Mirror that Neville was ‘like a friend and father’ and that he’d ‘love to give him a big hug’.
Siqueira, 34, would stay on loan at Valencia from Atletico Madrid until the end of the 2016-17 season, retiring a year later after failing to find a new club.
Guilherme Siqueira, centre, had previously played for Atletico MadridCredit: AFP
RODRIGO
In possibly Valencia’s only bright moment of that night, Rodrigo put the ball in the back of the net – only to be denied by the linesman’s flag.
The skilful forward has gone from strength to strength since, earning 25 Spain caps and scoring eight goals for his country in the process.
Now aged 30 he turns out for Leeds United, after joining Marcelo Bielsa’s men from Valencia last summer for around £27m.
Rodrigo, 30, now plays for Leeds UnitedCredit: Getty
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LIONEL MESSI may be Barcelona’s highest ever goalscorer and a one club man to boot, but he has missed out in one fan poll naming the club’s greatest player of all-time.In a ballot from fan poll site Ranker, the Argentine managed to only come second best with a famous compatriot winning out.
Messi came only second in a fans’ poll on Barcelona’s top playersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Diego Maradona edged Messi when supporters were asked to rank the LaLiga giants’ best and brightest.
Several big names were forced to settle on a place outside of the top ten, from 1940s and 50s legend Cesar Rodriguez to Rivaldo and Neymar.
Current stars Luis Suarez and Gerard Pique squeezed into the top ten behind recent heroes Ronaldo, Carles Puyol and Xavi.
The top five is hard to dispute even if the order can be debated.
Andres Iniesta, the most decorated Spanish footballer of all time with 35 trophies to his name, was fifth behind Johan Cruyff.
The Dutch maestro is arguably remembered for his time as coach at the Camp Nou as much as for his mighty playing record, with two Ballons d’Or arriving while a midfield focal point for the Blaugrana and four LaLiga titles won from the dugout.
FANS’ ALL-TIME TOP 20 BARCELONA PLAYERS1. Diego Maradona
2. Lionel Messi
3. Ronaldinho
4. Johan Cruyff
5. Andres Iniesta
6. Xavi
7. Carles Puyol
8. Ronaldo
9. Gerard Pique
10. Luis Suarez
11. Neymar
12. Dani Alves
13. Sergio Busquets
14. Samuel Eto’o
15. Rivaldo
16. David Villa
17. Ronald Koeman
18. Romario
19. Hristo Stoichkov
20. Victor Valdes

It is perhaps a surprise to see Cruyff come in behind Ronaldinho, who dazzled with his sensational skills during five years in Catalunya but won only two league titles and a Champions League.
Edging out Barcelona’s record scorer and second-highest appearance maker, Messi, at the time of writing is Maradona.
The club forked over a world record transfer fee to secure the forward from Boca Juniors.
But injuries meant Maradona left two years later with just a Copa del Rey to his name, before going on to become a global superstar with Napoli and Argentina, winning the 1986 World Cup in the process – a trophy Messi is yet to claim.
Messi’s old Argentina boss Maradona beat him in this pollCredit: AFP – Getty
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BARCELONA and Real Madrid are reportedly set for a transfer war over Valencia youngster Fabio Blanco.AS claims the attacking winger, 17, has caught the eye of the LaLiga giants following some impressive performances.
Valencia youngster Fabio Blanco is at the centre of a transfer battle between Real Madrid and BarcelonaCredit: Valencia CF
Manchester United and Chelsea are also said to be keeping tabs.
But it’s Barcelona and Real Madrid who lead the race for Blanco, with his Valencia contract set to expire this summer.
The teenager is yet to make his senior bow for the LaLiga side.
But he has reportedly done enough in the youth team to be labelled ‘the next superstar in Spanish football’.
And some have even likened Blanco to ex-Valencia star Ferran Torres, who joined Manchester City last summer for £20million.
Valencia are apparently eager to keep Blanco at the Mestalla.
But he is ready to shun the strugglers and instead link up with one of the country’s top clubs.
Real Madrid would like to sign Blanco for their B team and have already opened talks.
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However, Barcelona sporting director Mateu Alemany is an ex-Valencia man and worked closely with Blanco in the past.
That could swing things in Barcelona’s favour, with the Nou Camp giants currently boasting a crop of young first-team stars including Ansu Fati, Ilaix Moriba and Pedri.
United, Chelsea and even Man City are also said to be interested in Blanco.
Juventus and AC Milan have been linked as well.
But with Blanco not turning 18 years old until February next year, all five foreign sides are currently unable to sign him.
And that means Real and Barca are in pole position for the youngster being tipped as Spain’s next big footballing hit.

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REAL MADRID are plotting a huge transfer clear-out in order to finance moves for Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, according to reports.And the likes of Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard are among those that could make way.
Kylian Mbappe, 22, is a priority for Real MadridCredit: AFP
Erling Haaland, 20, could be on his way to the Spanish capitalCredit: AFP
The LaLiga champions believe that Haaland and Mbappe will be era-defining players, and are desperate not to allow either to join and strengthen a rival.
But being able to afford either, let alone both, will be a huge challenge, given the current financial landscape amid Covid-19.
While Haaland has a release clause of £65million kicking in next year, the 20-year-old is projected to cost around £150m this summer – with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Barcelona, Liverpool and Chelsea all keen.
And while Mbappe’s contract is set to expire in 2022, PSG are desperate to keep him at Parc des Princes.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid are willing to clear the decks, allowing boss Zinedine Zidane the opportunity to fully regenerate his squad.
First on the agenda will be getting rid of Gareth Bale for good, with the Welshman, 31, having recently confirmed his intention to return to Madrid next season for the final year of his £650,000-a-week deal.
Negotiations with Sergio Ramos, 34, have reached an impasse – and the iconic skipper could leave Santiago Bernabeu after 16 years of stellar service this year.
His centre-back partner Raphael Varane may also, somewhat surprisingly, be up for grabs – while Madrid will listen to offers for former Chelsea star Hazard, with the Belgian having made only nine league appearances this season amid injury troubles.
Isco is out of Zizou’s favour and is up for grabs, while Marcelo, 32, is not the force he once was and could be moved on.
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Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard and Sergio Ramos are Real Madrid’s top earners
Sergio Ramos could leave Madrid after 16 years this summerCredit: Getty
Eden Hazard has managed only nine league appearances this termCredit: Reuters
Expensive star Gareth Bale has admitted that he intends to return to Real Madrid next seasonCredit: PA

The development of Vinicius Junior, 20, has been an important project for Madrid, having signed him from Flamengo for £40m aged just 16.
But if his sale could fund Mbappe and Haaland swoops, the Spanish giants would be willing to cash in.
Whether or not Madrid can also sign a defender remains to be seen.
They have targeted Villarreal centre-back Pau Torres, and are said to be ‘furious’ that Man United have moved ahead of them in the race for his signature.
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Raphael Varane may be cashed in on this summerCredit: Rex
Vinicius Junior may make way for a more illustrious nameCredit: Getty
Isco is no longer a key man under Zinedine ZidaneCredit: AP
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