11 important La Liga players who have changed position
1. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid)
The Welsh star went from a fullback to a striker. At Southampton and Tottenham he was a fullback, but after a hat-trick for Spurs in the Champions League, his attacking potential was discovered. He then became a winger and a attacking midfielder. Ancelotti arrived and began to use him as a striker. Benitez as well as Zidane both see Bale as an attacking midfielder. It is the most obvious case in La Liga: in a few years he has gone from a left back to a striker, as well as an attacking midfielder and on the wing, scoring many goals.
2. Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
'The Little Chief´ was a number '5' (defensive midfielder) for River, Corinthians, West Ham, Liverpool and Argentina. Barcelona signed him as a replacement for Busquets, however he fell behind the Catalan in the pecking order for this position. After the retirement of Puyol, Macherano began to lead the Barcelona defence along with Pique.
3. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)
He went from a very attacking right back, to a centre back. His conversion began at Real Madrid aged just 19. Season after season he began to find his feet in this position and has become the best central defender in the world on various occasions. In this position he was won everything.
4. Jordi Alba (Barcelona)
He is now an electrifying fullback. He started as an attacker with Paterna and now he has huge success as a defender. The same thing happened to Gaya and Bernat.
5. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
The German was always an attacking midfielder at Leverkusen and Bayern, however Madrid wanted him to replace Xabi Alonso as a powerful holding midfielder. He suffered a rapid and drastic change.
6. Juanfran Torres (Athletico)
From the academy of Real Madrid, he played for Espanyol and Osasuna as a winger or central midfielder. Upon arriving at Athletico Madrid he had to adapt himself to a fullback. In this position he has won various awards with 'El Cholo' and has been selected by the National team.
7. Oscar de Marcos (Athletic)
The multi-purpose player. He has played in practically every position. In his first stages he was a right winger or a central midfielder. Now he is the replacement of Iraola and is a right-back.
8. Augusto Fernández (Athletico)
He arrived at Celta as a central midfielder and Berizzo converted him into a defensive midfielder. At Simeone's Athletico he maintains this position.
9. Mikel San Jose (Athletic)
He has gone from a centre back to a central midfielder. WIth Valverde he took a step forward and has gone up in value. Del Bosque uses him as a substitute for Busquets.
10. Raul García (Athletic)
His ability in the face of goal has been drawing him closer to the opponents area as time has gone by. He went from an attacking midfielder to a second striker. On his return to Calderon, Simeone exploited this quality and has been playing further forward each time. In the current Athletico team he is an attacking midfielder or a second striker.
11. Alberto Lora (Sporting)
He went from a striker to a fullback as he grew. In his youth at Real Madrid he was a striker and then moved to a right back at Sporting, where he has been playing for the past 7 years.
