5 breakout players this season from each of Europe's top 5 leagues

#5 Spain LaLiga

Breakout star - Arthur Melo (Barcelona)

Arthur has drawn comparisons with Barcelona great Xavi

After impressing for 3 seasons with his native Gremio whom he led to the 2017 Copa Libertadores, Barcelona shelled out €31 million for his signature in the summer of 2018.

Not much was known about the diminutive Brazilian prior to his arrival, but everyone knows all about him now.

Having initially struggled for playing time, Arthur found himself in the spotlight, with Valverde needing drastic measures following a slump in form by Barcelona, and that drastic measure was thrusting the untested midfielder in from the start against Tottenham away at Wembley in the Champions League.

It was supposed to be a baptism of fire for the 22-year-old, instead Arthur won widespread praise for his calmness on the ball, and the way he dictated the midfield ahead of more seasoned and experienced campaigners.

Melo's displays were so exceptional that he grabbed a lot of headlines, and has firmly become established as a mainstay in the Barca line-up since then.

His style of play has inevitably drawn comparisons with former Barcelona great Xavi - who also had a penchant for short passing and dictating the tempo, and this is a comparison which has been sanctioned by the midfield legend himself, with the Barca icon giving Arthur his endorsement.

Barcelona have long sought for a replacement to Xavi since he departed the Nou Camp, and while Arthur still has some way to go before matching the illustrious Spaniard's achievements, if he is to continue at this trajectory, then he would undoubtedly become a Barca midfield legend in the years to come.

Honorable mention - Marcos Llorente (Real Madrid)