One of the great things about playing games like FIFA 19 is there are new faces added to the squads of your favourite teams. Summer transfer activity in La Liga was certainly lively both in and out.
While Cristiano Ronaldo waved goodbye to Real Madrid after nine years at the Bernabeu and that cast a shadow over all other comings and going into the Spanish top flight, there are some exciting fresh faces in their league to play as. With that in mind, here are the top five rated La Liga newcomers on FIFA 19.
Arturo Vidal (86)
Fiery Chilean midfield all-rounder Arturo Vidal has won league titles and domestic cups in Germany and Italy, as well as back-to-back Copa America crowns on international duty. He left Bayern Munich after three seasons to join Barcelona in August.
After being pretty prolific for Juventus, his role with the Bundesliga big boys was a more disciplined one. What Vidal lacks in pace is more than compensated for in his FIFA 19 ratings for other attributes, coming out overall as the top newcomer in Spanish football.
Thomas Lemar (84)
La Liga is still such a draw in the post-Ronaldo era that, across the capital, Atletico Madrid were able to snare France’s World Cup 2018-winning winger Thomas Lemar from Monaco. He was, in truth, on the fringes of Les Bleus’ global triumph under Didier Deschamps, but still has a big future.
Still only 22, Lemar has a huge future ahead of him and retains bags of potential. This is reflected in his FIFA 19 ratings with pace and dribbling his primary assets. He’ll soon have to learn in real life how to defend and be more physical under Atleti boss Diego Simeone.
Malcom (84)
Another Barcelona summer signing now in former Bordeaux winger Malcom. This Brazil talent scored Ligue 1’s goal of the year in France before arriving at the Nou Camp and is in line for his senior international debut this autumn.
William Carvalho (84)
It’s a little surprising to find an out-and-out defensive midfielder in Portugal’s Euro 2016 winner William Carvalho also highly rated on FIFA 19 following an acrimonious transfer from Sporting Lisbon to Real Betis. He was one of several players who cited just cause to terminate their contracts following an attack on club staff by fans during training.
Sporting’s loss is certainly beneficial to Betis, who have returned to the European scene having seen bitter local rivals Sevilla dominate the Europa League in recent years. Again, what Carvalho lacks in pace, he makes up for in physical and defensive attributes on FIFA 19 giving Betis an effective midfield shield.
Arthur Melo (83)
Is it any wonder Barcelona are so strongly fancied to win the league again as a third player in the top five La Liga newcomers joined them this summer in ex-Gremio midfielder Arthur. With FIFA 19 stats of 70 or more for all attributes, the Brazil prospect is clearly a long-term successor to short-term fix Vidal.
Passing and dribbling are particularly strong parts of Arthur’s game. That’s all good with Ernesto Valverde’s team still dominating possession and being formidable opposition both on the game and in real life.
Comments