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La Liga has always been blessed with some of the most talented midfielders in the game. The likes of Juan Roman Riquelme, Michael Laudrup, Luis Suarez Miramontes and Jose Sanchez are some of the legendary names, among others, in this regard.
In more recent times, Zinedine Zidane, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric have also graced the competition. But there is also a crop of young and rising midfielders currently plying their trade in the Spanish top flight.
Although the debate over who is the best midfielder in the Spanish league rages on, we can certainly rank them on the basis of their market values. Based on various variables like age, performance, contract duration, among others, a player's worth is determined.
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On that note, here are the five most valuable midfielders plying in the La Liga at the moment:
#5 Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) - £58.5 million
Federico Valverde has grown by leaps and bounds with Real Madrid since returning to the club three years ago. Initially limited to only substitute appearances, the Uruguayan slowly fought his way into the side, and is now almost indispensable.
An immensely talented player with excellent vision and ball control, Valverde is crucial to breaking opposition plays, as he times his tackles to perfection and makes a lot of key clearances too.
He was a key cog in Real Madrid's La Liga-winning team in 2019-20, contributing seven goals, although injuries and COVID-19 curtailed his 2020-21 campaign. Valverde is only 23, so he will look to bounce back in the upcoming season.
#4 Casemiro (Real Madrid) - £63 million
Since returning to La Liga giants Real Madrid from a loan spell with Porto in 2015, Casemiro has firmly established himself as one of the game's best defensive midfielders.
Intelligent, technically strong, aggressive off the ball, and hard-tackling, the Brazilian provides incredible balance to his side. His defensive skills allow more offensive-minded players to roam forward; Casemiro also distributes the ball with unerring accuracy.
However, Casemiro also doesn't hesitate to charge off his line and join up the attack, which explains why he averages six goals a season. The best part is, he's still only 29 and in the prime of his career, so the midfielder has a few more years at the top with Los Blancos.
#3 Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid) - £72 million
Marcos Llorente made a £35 million transfer from Real Madrid to Atletico Madrid in 2019, which raised a few eyebrows. But Llorente proved his worth.
His double against Liverpool in the 2019-20 Champions League dumped out the holders from the competition, before Llorente hit the throttle in the 2020-21 campaign.
With 12 goals and 11 assists, Llorente played a key role in guiding Los Rojiblancos back to La Liga glory after seven years, in the process increasing his market value.
The Spaniard is excellent in winning back possession, making long-distance passes and shooting from outside the box, as he ruthlessly displayed at Anfield 17 months ago.
From being a Real Madrid reject to Atletico Madrid's vital cog in midfield, Llorente has come quite a long way in the last two years. Yet he remains grossly underrated.
#2 Pedri (Barcelona) - £72 million
It's hard to believe that Pedri is only 18, for his talents and on-field performances belie his tender years.
Signed for only £6.48 million from Las Palmas in 2020, the Spaniard has seen his value getting multiplied almost 12 times since then, a testament to his impact at the club.
He usually plays in a free role which allows him to roam across the pitch. But Pedri naturally occupies central areas and operates between the lines.
Pedri also has a penchant for drifting out wide and running towards the touchline to get involved in attacks, as exemplified by his six assists in the 2020-21 season.
What has also contributed to his increase in value is Pedri's heroic performances with La Roja at Euro 2020, where he won the 'best young player of the tournament' award before starring at the Tokyo Olympics as well.
#1 Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) - £81 million
Barcelona's midfielder, Frenkie de Jong, was also recently named the most valuable player in La Liga. It's not an ordinary distinction for someone who's only 24.
The Dutch international rose to fame during the 2018-19 season when he played a key role in helping Ajax reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in a fairy-tale run.
A versatile player lauded for his combination of defensive stability and playmaking ability, De Jong can pass the ball with the precision of a surgical knife and dribble his way through narrow spaces.
He has been deployed in various positions by the Blaugrana, including as centre-back, and De Jong has come up trumps on each occasion. He has also scored nine goals and made 12 assists in nearly 100 games for the club.
