Nick Harris takes a look at the club which helped develop current Chelsea, Swansea City and Arsenal stars.
One of the most productive youth systems of recent years hasn’t helped them stave off the threat of the financial crisis however, with Oviedo in danger of shutting down.
Spanish delights have become one of the most enjoyable aspects of the Premier League over the recent years; with David Silva at the heart of Manchester City’s title win last season, and Juan Mata’s astonishing recent form setting the standard for this year. When we see the players in the Premiership they are generally almost fully formed, and seem a class apart to the youth system products that our own teams are producing. But of course all these players were young once, and clubs in Spain have devoted their time and resources to making them the stars they are today.
One club has played an important role in the development of three of this year’s Premiership’s outstanding players. Real Oviedo youth system can be found in the history of Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and Miguel Michu. Mata we all know about. He was superb last season for Chelsea, and looks even better this time around. Although he was still fairly young when he left Oviedo to join Real Madrid’s youth academy, it was there that he began his footballing journey.
The same is true of Santi Cazorla. Regarded by many as the signing of the summer, Cazorla is quickly becoming a crucial part of Arsenal’s side, with his intricate passing and long range shooting. Cazorla also spent some of his formative years at Real Oviedo, before moving to Villareal. Another Oviedo product, Miguel Michu, also came to the Premier League in the summer, joining Swansea as they looked to replace the goals provided by Sigurdsson last season. Michu has surpassed all expectations, rattling in six goals already.
The club that helped begin the careers of these three Premier League stars, along with innumerable other players, is in dire financial straits. If you are interested in finding out more about their trouble Inside Spanish Football has some information here, or follow Spanish football journalist Sid Lowe on Twitter here. Their problems are likely to be felt by many teams in the current financial climate, and it’s something no football fan likes to see.
Football, especially in Europe, is more interconnected than ever before. If a second division Spanish side goes out of business, English fans should take note, it might mean they don’t end up seeing a Mata or a Michu week in week out.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
