Spain obliterated the international scene between 2008 and 2012, winning two European Championships and their first World Cup during that period. With a generation now inspired by their success and the youth setups of Barcelona and Real Madrid, who can be the next star to fire La Furia Roja to glory on FIFA 18?
READ: FIFA 19 Wonderkids: Best Spanish players to sign in Career Mode
What is a wonderkid?
Here we are looking at the best Spanish wonderkids on FIFA 18 Career Mode. All these players are aged 23 and under, and have a potential of at least 83. Players can outgrow their potentials on the game, but only if they are having a consistent run of good form. These players may be closer to the beginning of their careers, but they will not come cheap as they hold the potential to become some of the best in the world. We have compiled our top 10 by looking at player age, potential and stats.
For a full list of our Spanish wonderkids, please visit the table near the end of this page.
Marco Asensio (OVR 84 – POT 92)
Age: 21
Positions: CAM, LW, RW
Club: Real Madrid
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 87 long shots, 86 shot power, 85 ball control
Cost: £91.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £154,000 a week
The fact that James Rodriguez (OVR 86) has been loaned out from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich for two seasons is down to Marco Asensio. The 21-year-old Spaniard is already pressing for a first team spot at the Bernabeu, after netting ten goals in just 20 starts last season.
You will need a massive £91.1 million to sign attacking midfielder or winger Asensio, due to his overwhelming potential of 92. His starting overall of 84 consists of 87 long shots, 86 shot power and 85 ball control for which you will need hefty £154,000 a week wages.
Saul Niguez (OVR 82 – POT 90)
Age: 21
Positions: CM, RM, LM
Club: Atletico Madrid
Work rate: Medium/High
Best attributes: 85 short passing, 84 ball control, 83 heading accuracy
Cost: £63.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £52,000 a week
One of the most versatile midfielders in the game, Atletico Madrid’s Saul Niguez can perform any role across the midfield. The 21-year-old has been regular starter for Atleti over the past four seasons, and you just know that big things are to come for the player.
You are looking at a price of £63.4 million for the central, right or left midfielder with wages of £52,000 a week. That will get you Saul’s 82 overall and 90 potential, along with his attributes of 85 short passing, 84 ball control and 83 heading accuracy.
Gerard Deulofeu (OVR 82 – POT 89)
Age: 23
Positions: LW, RW, RM
Club: Barcelona
Work rate: High/Low
Best attributes: 93 sprint speed, 93 acceleration, 93 agility
Cost: £61.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £145,000 a week
After struggling towards the end of his time at Everton, many were shocked to see Gerard Deulofeu return to Barcelona, but his raw pace is just what manager Ernesto Valverde needs. With fellow new signing Ousmane Dembele suffering a serious injury, Deulofeu has featured regularly for Barca this season, helping plug the gap left by £200 million man Neymar.
The 23-year-old Deulofeu has skills of 93 sprint speed, 93 acceleration and 93 agility on FIFA 18, which give him an overall of 82. For his outstanding potential of 89 you will need £61.4 million and £145,000 a week wages, but even if you can afford that you will need to wait until January to move in for him.
Jesus Vallejo (OVR 78 – POT 89)
Age: 20
Positions: CB
Club: Real Madrid
Work rate: Low/High
Best attributes: 82 interceptions, 81 sliding tackle, 78 marking
Cost: £30.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £79,000 a week
A less familiar name, but a couple of loan spells have brought centre back Jesus Vallejo into the fold at Real Madrid. The 20-year-old went out to German side Eintracht Frankfurt last season, and he is now one of the most promising defenders in world football. With Nacho Fernandez struggling when called upon by Zinedine Zidane, you wonder if Vallejo could creep above him in the pecking order.
The defender will set you back a large £30.7 million with wages of £79,000 a week. If you are looking for a centre back for 12 years it is worth it, but you will need to nurture the 78 rated Vallejo to get him up towards his 89 potential. His best stats are currently 82 interceptions, 81 sliding tackle and 78 marking.
Carles Alena (OVR 75 – POT 89)
Age: 19
Positions: CM, RM, CAM
Club: Barcelona B
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 82 short passing, 80 dribbling, 79 acceleration
Cost: £27.4 million (release clause)
Wage: £4,000 a week
With Barcelona losing Xavi a few seasons back and Andres Iniesta nearing the end of his time with Barca, there is a need for new midfield maestro at the Nou Camp. Barca B man Carles Alena has already played five times for the full Barcelona side, so expect him to get more game-time as the season wears on, and we can see what he has in his locker.
The 19-year-old Alena will cost you £27.4 million, but with wages of just £4,000 a week he is one of the more affordable Spanish wonderkids. 82 short passing, 80 dribbling and 79 acceleration give the central, right or attacking midfielder a 75 overall rating, rising to an incredible 89 potential.
Hector Bellerin (OVR 81 – POT 88)
Age: 22
Positions: RWB, RB
Club: Arsenal
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 96 acceleration, 94 sprint speed, 87 stamina
Cost: £38.8 million (release clause)
Wage: £80,000 a week
Linked with a move back to Barcelona for the past couple of seasons, but there is a sense at Arsenal that Hector Bellerin may not live up to expectation. After a brilliant few years at the Emirates, a move to right wing back hasn’t suited the speedster, but at the age of 22, he still has time on his side.
96 acceleration, 94 sprint speed and 87 stamina make Bellerin one of the fastest players on FIFA 18, and they add to the Spaniard’s 81 overall rating. His fantastic potential of 88 can be yours for £38.8 million and wages of £80,000 a week.
Dani Ceballos (OVR 78 – POT 88)
Age: 20
Positions: CM, LM, CDM, CAM
Club: Real Madrid
Work rate: Medium/Medium
Best attributes: 83 ball control, 82 dribbling, 80 vision
Cost: £32.7 million (release clause)
Wage: £92,000 a week
Real Madrid’s midfield trio of Casemiro, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos is tough to break into, but Dani Ceballos showed on his first start for the club that he can provide something different for the club. That brace on full debut should spur Ceballos on, and with the ability to play as a central, left, defensive or attacking midfielder, he will be a useful asset for Los Blancos from the bench.
83 ball control, 82 dribbling and 80 vision comprise the former Real Betis man’s 78 overall, with his potential up at 88. The talented Ceballos can be yours for £30.7 million and £92,000 a week wages but you will need to wait until January to move for him.
Alvaro Odriozola (OVR 78 – POT 88)
Age: 21
Positions: RB, RM
Club: Real Sociedad
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 84 sprint speed, 82 acceleration, 82 stamina
Cost: £29.3 million (release clause)
Wage: £19,000 a week
With Spain head coach Julen Lopetegui experimenting with his right backs, the 21-year-old Alvaro Odriozola has been given his chance on the international stage. The Real Sociedad player made his debut for La Roja in October 2017 against Albania, notching an assist. Despite that performance it is unlikely that the right back or midfielder will travel to the World Cup in Russia, but expect him to be given more opportunities after the tournament.
Odriozola will cost you £29.3 million and wages of £19,000 a week, giving you his 78 overall and 88 potential. With stats of 84 sprint speed, 82 acceleration and 82 stamina, Odriozola can be the man to march up and down your right flank.
Suso (OVR 82 – POT 87)
Age: 23
Positions: RW, CF
Club: AC Milan
Work rate: High/Medium
Best attributes: 89 ball control, 87 dribbling, 86 agility
Cost: £46.1 million (release clause)
Wage: £97,000 a week
Never regarded as a future talent at Liverpool, Suso has slowly been proving the doubters wrong at AC Milan. The right winger or centre forward is now a permanent fixture in the Milan starting lineup, one of the few survivors from the overhaul last summer. With five goals in 15 Serie A games this season, the 23-year-old Suso is an outlet for the side, and his performances led to a first Spain cap in November 2017.
Suso’s 89 ball control, 87 dribbling and 86 agility help make up his 82 overall which can rise to a superb potential of 87. You will need a large fee of £46.1 million to dislodge him from AC Milan’s grasp however, with his wages currently £97,000 a week.
Sergio Rico (OVR 82 – POT 87)
Age: 23
Positions: GK
Club: Sevilla
Best attributes: 83 GK reflexes, 82 GK positioning, 80 GK handling
Cost: £41.2 million (release clause)
Wage: £14,000 a week
Now David De Gea will likely be the Spain goalkeeper for the next five years at least, but Sergio Rico is on hand to put the Manchester United stopper under a little bit of pressure. Sevilla man Rico was involved in back-to-back Europa League wins in 2015 and 2016, and he has now played close to 150 games for the club.
You are looking at a price of £41.2 million for Rico, with his wages currently just £14,000 a week. That will get you his 82 overall and 87 potential, along with stats of 83 GK reflexes, 82 GK positioning and 80 GK handling.
More Spanish wonderkids
Player | Age | Pos | Club | CA/ PA | C | W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arrizabalaga | 22 | GK | Athletic Bilbao | 81/ 87 | £36.4m | £17k |
Williams | 23 | RW ST LW | Athletic Bilbao | 81/ 87 | £49.6m | £27k |
Grimaldo | 21 | LB | Benfica | 80/ 87 | £33.9m | £11k |
Denis Suarez | 23 | CM LM RM | Barcelona | 80/ 87 | £40.6m | £123k |
Diego Llorente | 21 | CB CDM | Real Sociedad | 79/ 87 | £32.4m | £26k |
Pablo Fornals | 21 | CAM CM LM CDM | Villarreal | 78/ 87 | £32.4m | £24k |
Carlos Soler | 20 | RM CM CAM RW | Valencia | 78/ 87 | £32.4m | £24k |
Ferran Torres | 17 | RM RW | Valencia | 69/ 87 | £5m | £8k |
Oyarzabal | 22 | LW RW | Real Sociedad | 79/ 86 | £36.4m | £29k |
Marcos Llorente | 22 | CDM CM | Real Madrid | 78/ 86 | £25.7m | £92k |
C = Cost
W = Wage
*Denotes player is on loan
Who have you signed on Career Mode? Let us know in the comments section below.
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