There’s only one show in town when it comes to La Liga right now, and you don’t need to be a genius to work out what that is.
Let me give you a clue: there are very few players who are welcomed by 80,000 fans when they join a football club.
Yet that is exactly how Kylian Mbappe was greeted when he arrived in Madrid last week.
The France captain says it’s his destiny, others say the transfer has been more than a decade in the making.
Either way, what we do know is that it was while at Monaco, not long after he had been charmed by Zinedine Zidane on a visit to Real Madrid’s training ground just before his 14th birthday, that the talented teenager began taking Spanish lessons in anticipation of this moment.
Certainly since then, this is a move which has had a degree of inevitability about it, so all eyes will be on what La Liga 2024 highlights he duly delivers.
Even for a player who has already won 84 caps for France and set the record for most goals scored in World Cup finals, Mbappe admitted to feeling nervous as he was unveiled in front of Madristas.
It’s a major move and the best team in world football just got stronger.
Incidentally, there were also 400 journalists on the scene and Real’s club shop emptied of every Mbappe shirt.
Mbappe will not actually be present when Real take on Barcelona in their US pre-season tour, but he should be available for the beginning of their competitive matches.
During the press conference which greeted his arrival, the 25-year-old superstar confirmed he would be fit for their European Super Cup clash against Europa Lague winners Atalanta on August 14.
He did not give any clues away on whether he would require surgery on the broken nose sustained during the European Championships, but it’s thought unlikely.
As it stands, Mbappe is due to start training on August 7 with a possible debut against Atalanta in Warsaw, Poland a week later.
Even before his arrival, the SBOTOP La Liga 2024 betting odds made Madrid favourites for next season’s title rac,e and there won’t be too many who disagree.
If there is another story in La Liga right now, it surrounds a 17-year-old by the name of Lamine Yamal.
A month ago, he was continuing his schoolwork in between training and playing for Spain at Euro 2024.
Since then, he has become the first teenager to record three assists at the European Championships before adding a fourth for good measure in the final.
Turning 17 the day before the showpiece in Berlin, his total is higher than any other Spanish player has ever managed at the tournament, and also the joint-most on record (since 1980) by any player of any nationality in the competition’s history.
Only within the last few days he has been officially registered as a first team player at Barcelona where it has been confirmed he will follow in the footsteps of Lionel Messi with his new number.
The Argentine icon selected 19 in 2006 and Yamal has done likewise 18 years later – the same number he wore during Spain’s summer showpiece success.
What else is there to lookout for in a La Liga you may ask.
Well plenty and, with just under a month to go until the new season begins, there’s bound to be a fair bit of activity in the transfer market.
My team of last season, Girona, have already snapped up Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek incidentally and, if he can rediscover his best form, they will have a bargain.
Also watch out for Lamal’s fellow young gun, Nico Williams.
Fresh from terrorising Europe, there are reports he may be reunited with Yamal at Barcelona, even if the financial position at the Catalan Club is unclear.
Can Athletic Bilbao retain his services? They have often struggled to keep hold of their top talent and Williams has strong friendships with current Barca players like Yamal, Pedri, and Ferran Torres.
Yet the emotional ties Williams has with Athletic Bilbao cannot be overlooked. The Basque club is known for their strong emotional connection with their players, and it’s possible that Williams might choose to stay with his current club.
In a way, that would be encouraging after he played a part in history in April as they defeated Real Mallorca on penalties to win their 24th Copa del Rey title and their first since 1984 – ending a 40-year trophy drought.
Are you ready for the return of La Liga? Mbappe, Yamal, and Williams will be.
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