The paradox of the world champions in LaLiga

The World Cup is a special competition, a magnificent showcase for leagues from all over the planet to show off their footballers.

Some clubs act in the same way, eager for their main assets to be revalued in order to try to obtain a good transfer.

And more when just after this championship the winter market opens.

LaLiga, which has contributed 83 players, has left an important mark in this autumn World Cup.

Only the Premier League, with 134 players, was better represented, although from the semifinals, the Spanish competition led the ranking, with 22, followed by the English (16), the Italian Serie A (14), the French Ligue 1 (14) and the German Bundesliga (13).

In the final won by Argentina against France, moreover, it was again Spanish football that prevailed with 15 representatives to 10 from the Premier League, eight from Serie A and Ligue 1, and six from the Bundesliga.

With Argentina's triumph, up to 10 world champions play in LaLiga, the most represented competition of the Albiceleste: De Paul, Molina and Correa at Atlético de Madrid;

Acuña, Papu Gómez and Montiel in Sevilla;

Germán Pezzella and Guido Rodríguez at Betis;

and Rulli and Juan Foyth at Villarreal.

The 10

champions have had, however, a rather uneven performance with the team led by Messi.

They have not been excessively relevant footballers with Argentina, except for De Paul and Molina, although elements such as Acuña, Pezzella and Montiel had moments of relevance in the development of the matches.

De Paul played in all seven games for Argentina in the World Cup, as did his teammate Molina, who also scored a goal.

De Paul was the fourth player with the most minutes in his team (602), after Messi, Emiliano Martínez and Otamendi (690), who played every minute.

In addition, Acuña started four of the seven games (Mexico, Poland, Australia and the Netherlands), and participated in two more, showing a more than acceptable level.

The rest of the champions that play in LaLiga did not, however, have a high level of incidence in the development of the tournament for Argentina.

The central Pezzella participated in three games (Poland, the Netherlands and France) in the final minutes and with the mission of ensuring the result.

He was never a starter.

Montiel only started the second game against Mexico.

Then he only participated against the Netherlands and in the grand final against France.

Of course, the Sevilla side will go down in history for being the author of the penalty that gave Argentina the third World Cup.

His teammate in Nervión, Papu Gómez, started the first game against Saudi Arabia and then against Australia in the round of 16, with a discreet performance.

While,

Guido Rodríguez from Betis only played 57 minutes as a starter against Mexico and mattress player Correa only participated symbolically for four minutes in the 3-0 semifinal win against Croatia.

The representation of Villarreal, meanwhile, barely added four minutes, which Foyth played against Croatia in the semifinals, while the goalkeeper Rulli did not play a minute.

Sevilla, the League team with the most world champions along with Atlético, lives a true paradox.

It is in relegation positions with three players who have risen to the top of world soccer.

And two semifinalists like Bono and En-Nesyri with Morocco.

The situation is complex.

Neither Montiel, nor Papu nor Acuña have had a good first leg of the season with Sevilla.

In fact, they have been secondary players and the club's executives have placed Papu Gómez on the market, they don't know what to do with Montiel and they have changed their minds regarding Acuña.

The latter will remain in the Sevilla squad due to Telles' serious injury with Brazil, which means that the team only has Acuña himself available on the left side.

However, the footballer has been between cotton pads during all this time due to some discomfort in the adductors.

At the club they fear that Acuña will decide to have an operation on his return, which would cause a big problem with the footballer.

In addition, Papu Gómez returns with a problem in the ligaments of his ankle, which would mean quite a setback for the club's attempt to transfer him.

This being the case, only Montiel would be available for Sampaoli at the restart of the League and none of the three players has been revalued.

At Atlético they expect De Paul to confirm the level shown in the World Cup, especially in the second phase, where he came back after a rather erratic start, and exuded hierarchy and a wide physical journey.

At Atlético, any offer that convinces the club and the player is welcome, but they trust that De Paul will increase his level.

Nahuel Molina has not played for Atlético "not even 20% of what is expected of him," say sources close to the Madrid club.

Simeone's personal bet, Atlético signed this 24-year-old full-back for close to 20 million to Udinese who needs to settle in the Madrid team.

Molina has had a hard time picking up the pace in the first period of this season.

As for Correa,

The two representatives of Betis in the winning squad in Qatar have filled the fans and managers of the team with pride, but little else.

Those responsible for the club, which has presented losses of 38 million in the past year, hoped that the World Cup would serve as a showcase for its players, especially in the case of Guido.

A notable 28-year-old midfielder who Betis had placed on the market.

His participation in the World Cup has been discreet and has not been revalued.

Of course, both he and Pezzella are a fundamental part of this Betis Cup champion that seeks to qualify for the Champions League.

Guido has played in 17 games, with one goal in the Europa League, and Pezzella in 16.

Rulli and Foyth, irrelevant in the tournament, are important players for Villarreal.

Especially Rulli, the starting goalkeeper in the league competition, already just around the corner.

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