5 most used U21 players to debut this season in LaLiga
Now that the 22/23 LaLiga season is over, it’s a good moment to take a look at which youngsters gained the trust of their managers and got more opportunities to shine.
In this article we’ve listed the 5 players under the age of 21 to have more minutes for their club in LaLiga after making their debut this season.
1 - Pablo Barrios (Atlético de Madrid)
LaLiga Debut: 3-2 defeat vs Cádiz (29/10/22)
Age of debut: 19 years 4 months 14 days
Matches played: 21
Minutes played: 713
The young midfielder has been a very useful player for Diego Pablo Simeone, even starting in six LaLiga matches, two of those against Real Madrid and F.C. Barcelona. A very valid alternative taking into account all the injury problems Atleti had throughout the season. He scored twice in the Copa del Rey but he’s yet to do so in the league where he at least managed an assist vs Sevilla. It’ll be interesting to see how his participation evolves next season, but Atleti made sure to tie him to the club as soon as possible by renewing his contract last January until 2028.
2 - Javi Guerra (Valencia)
LaLiga Debut: 0-2 defeat vs Sevilla (16/04/23)
Age of debut: 19 years 11 months 3 days
Matches played: 10
Minutes played: 602
One of Rubén Baraja’s best and bravest decisions was to give young footballers such as Javi Guerra the chance to debut and help the team. It happened last April while the team was fully immersed in the fight to avoid relegation. Ever since he started in six of the 10 games he took part in and repaid the manager’s trust by scoring a life saving goal in the 93rd minute to beat direct rivals Real Valladolid in matchday 31. Without those three points Valencia would probably be relegated…
3 - Diego López (Valencia)
LaLiga Debut: 0-1 defeat vs Atlético de Madrid (29/08/22)
Age of debut: 20 years 3 months 16 days
Matches played: 10
Minutes played: 448
His debut came early on in the season while Gennaro Gattuso was the manager, barely playing 10 minutes against Atleti. He wouldn’t get a second shot until last April when Baraja called him up to play against Elche. Since then he’s also been instrumental in ensuring Valencia remained in LaLiga by scoring three goals and providing one assist in the last five matches of the season, including a winner against Real Madrid. He stepped up to cover for the lack of goals scored by other more veteran attacking players.
4 - David Torres (Valladolid)
LaLiga Debut: 3-0 defeat vs Atlético de Madrid (21/01/23)
Age of debut: 19 years 10 months 16 days
Matches played: 7
Minutes played: 380
David Torres already played a couple of games with Valladolid in the Copa del Rey, but his LaLiga debut was against Atleti while Pacheta was still in charge. Paulo Pezzolano would give him continuity by starting him in three of the last five games, including the finally match against Getafe. The centre-back performed but ‘los pucelanos’ succumbed. Another struggling club which relied on the youngsters to help the club escape the bottom three spots, although in this case it didn’t end well.
5 - Kike Salas (Sevilla)
LaLiga Debut: 2-3 win vs Espanyol (10/09/22)
Age of debut: 20 years 4 months 18 days
Matches played: 6
Minutes played: 358
Unlike the previous players, most of Kike Salas’ minutes on the pitch came early on in the season. It was Julen Lopetegui that gave the kid an opportunity, playing him in LaLiga and the Champions League. Jorge Sampaoli would go on to give him a few more opportunities, but he was finally loaned to Tenerife during the January transfer window. Despite Sampaoli’s words expressing his wish to keep Salas, the club decided it was better to renew his contract until 2026 to then loan him out.