Cesc Fabregas’s time in English football has come to an end.After playing 501 games in nearly 13 years for both Arsenal and Chelsea, the Spaniard has called time on a glittering Premier League career to join up with his old team-mate Thierry Henry at Monaco.talkSPORT.com asks, where does he rank in the top seven Spanish players to play in the Premier League?
87. Juan Mata (Chelsea and Manchester United)
Mata signed for Chelsea from Valencia for 23.5million in 2011 and proved to be crucial in the Blues’ success in his three-year spell with the club.In his first season he finished second in the assists charts behind David Silva with 14, and went on to win the club’s Player of the Season award.He was instrumental in Chelsea’s FA Cup and Champions League victory that season.Mata then played a pivotal role in Chelsea’s Europa League victory the following season – assisting Branislav Ivanovic’s winner in the match, he then won Player of the Season for his side for the second time.After falling out of favour with Jose Mourinho, Mata moved to Manchester United in a 40million deal and has been a useful player for the Red Devils – although not as crucial as he was for Chelsea.The Spaniard has contributed 50 goals and 50 assists in his 235 Premier League appearances.
86. Cesar Azipilicueta (Chelsea)
Jose Mourinho once said: “Azpilicueta is the kind of player I like a lot. I think a team with 11 Azpilicuetas would probably win the Champions League because football is not just about pure talent”.Azpilicueta signed for Chelsea from Marseille for just 7million in what has to be seen as one of the best bargain deals in Premier League history.The right-back, who is now vice-captain of Chelsea, has made his name as one of the most consistent full-backs in his seven years with the club and even starred in Antonio Conte’s back-three.He has won the Premier League twice, the Europa League and the FA Cup with the Blues.He also played every minute of Chelsea’s Premier League title victory under Antonio Conte in the 2016/17 season.Azpi is favourite to take over the Chelsea captaincy when Gary Cahill leaves the club.
85. Fernando Torres (Liverpool and Chelsea)
Torres has to go down as one of the best strikers in Premier League history.The Spaniard was an aggressive and direct striker with a devastating finish.Having signed for Liverpool from Atletico Madrid for the big money fee of 20million in 2007, there was a lot of pressure on his shouldersBut he took it in his stride, scoring on his debut against Chelsea in the Community Shield and finishing his first season as second top scorer with 24 goals.He formed one of the most lethal partnerships the Premier League has ever seen with Steven Gerrard and was widely thought of as one of the best finishers in the game during his four years with the club.Torres then moved to Chelsea in January for 50million in 2011, where he failed to rediscover the same blistering form at Stamford Bridge – but still he won the Champions League, the Europa League and the FA Cup.Torres will remain a legend of the league, with 85 goals and 29 assists in 212 appearances.
84. David de Gea (Manchester United)
De Gea was personally scouted by the great Sir Alex Ferguson and had a monumental weight on his shoulders to replace Red Devil legend Edwin Van der Sar.He struggled in his first season but Ferguson was so sure of his keeper’s talent and backed him to bounce back and be a success.Inevitably Ferguson was right and de Gea is now regarded as one of the best keepers in the world.Incredibly, he became the first Manchester United player to win the club’s Player of the Season award four times.Last season he won the Golden Glove award as he picked up the most clean sheets in the league.
83. Xabi Alonso
Steven Gerrard once said:“It was clear Xabi Alonso was royalty after our first training session together in August 2004. He was, by some distance, the best central midfielder I ever played alongside.”Alonso signed for Liverpool from Real Sociedad in 2004 as part of Rafa Benitez’s overhaul of the first team.The midfielder didn’t need any time to settle in and was instrumental in the Reds’ miracle Champions League victory.He was crucial in the semi-final against Juventus, playing 90 minutes when recovering from injury, and he scored the rebound of his penalty to level the scoreline on that famous night in Istanbul.The next season Alonso won the FA Cup with Liverpool, but after five years with the club he moved to the Spanish capital to sign with Real Madrid.He contributed 14 goals and 17 assists in his 143 Premier League appearances.
82: Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas made his Premier League debut at the age of 16 and 177 days and still holds the record as Arsenal’s youngest player to make a senior appearance.The midfielder lit up the top flight as a teenager and won his first trophy in 2005 – lifting the FA Cup for Arsene Wenger’s men.In 2008, he was named club captain and skippered his side for three years before moving to his boyhood club Barcelona.He then spent four years in Catalonia before moving back to London to sign for Chelsea and his success continued for the Blues, winning two Premier League titles and an FA Cup in west London.Fabregas became one of the most decorated Spanish players to play in the Premier League, and remarkably holds the second most assists (111) in the history of England’s top division after Ryan Giggs.He also contributed 50 goals in his 350 appearances.
81: David Silva
Silva signed for Manchester City for 25million in 2010 and has been hailed by many in the game as the best ever signing for the club.The playmaker has arguably been one of the best No.10s in the English top-flight – pulling the strings behind the forwards with his passing and creativeness, while also nipping in to net his fair share of goals.Having won three Premier Leagues, an FA Cup and a League Cup, the Spaniard is not just one of the best Spaniards to play in the Premier League but one of the best players in general.He has also scored 54 and assisted a further 77 in his 266 league appearances with the club.Now 32, Silva’s form is showing no sign of slowing, and he is arguably getting better the older he gets.
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