Which stars need to shine this season: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Man Utd, PSG
Football leagues around Europe are gearing up for the new season and preseason training and friendlies are in full flow. All eyes will be on
Football leagues around Europe are gearing up for the new season and preseason training and friendlies are in full flow. All eyes will be on the transfer window as clubs scramble to find the missing pieces, either in the starting lineup or to complete the squad. The mega signings of the European summer saw England international Elliot Anderson switch Nottingham Forest for Manchester City and Ivory Coast’s Yan Diomande swap RB Leipzig for Real Madrid. Rumours are rife that Rodri may be heading out of City with Barcelona poised. It seems, however, as though it has been a quieter period on the transfer front, with perhaps one of the more settled summer squads across the continent than in previous years. So, Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at which players are most crucial to their teams’ success in the leagues across Europe – and why statistics back that up. Declan Rice – Arsenal After an underwhelming World Cup, Declan Rice will be desperate to renew his importance to Arsenal. The 27-year-old, who arrived in North London from West Ham, was central to the Gunners’ defensive set up, ball retention and, crucially, their extraordinary set-piece threat last season. The Gunners scored a league-high 24 goals from set-pieces, with eight coming from Rice deliveries and three producing direct assists. The arrival in midfield of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, should lighten the load for Rice, but it will not diminish his importance to the title defence. Bruno Fernandes – Manchester United The heartbeat of Manchester United since he joined the club, Bruno Fernandes may perhaps be the player hardest for any of the clubs on this list to replace should he sustain a long-term injury. The attacking midfielder was arguably the best player in his position in the world last season, as he produced a remarkable 21 Premier League assists – a single-season record – while also ranking first for chances created and through balls. His 45 chances created were also the most in the division, while his expected assists ranked second. Fernandes is not simply contributing goals and assists; he is creating a huge proportion of United’s attacking opportunities.
If United are to challenge consistently, maintaining that level will be key. His workload in midfield may be affected by the departure of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro – how United fill that void is likely to influence the performance of Fernandes. Cole Palmer – Chelsea Cole Palmer’s importance to Chelsea is ultimately about attacking output and he will be boosted by the arrival of Morgan Rogers to help him in that department. Palmer’s breakthrough 2024/25 campaign produced extraordinary numbers, with the attacking midfielder directly involved in 29 Premier League goals. Chelsea’s structure has increasingly been built around his creativity and ability to operate between the lines. His influence is particularly significant because he can contribute both as a scorer and creator rather than relying exclusively on one dimension of his game. After a less productive 2025/26 season, the statistical challenge is clear: Chelsea need Palmer back closer to his elite production levels if they are to compete with England’s best. Erling Haaland – Manchester City Erling Haaland’s importance to Manchester City can be reduced to one extraordinary statistic: 27 Premier League goals in 2025/26, enough to win his third Golden Boot. That means City possess a striker capable of converting their possession and territorial dominance into points. Haaland’s numbers are particularly important because Manchester City frequently create large volumes of attacking situations – his job is to finish them. His presence also forces defenders to remain deep and devote multiple players to control him, creating space elsewhere. For City, the equation is straightforward: if Haaland scores at this level, their chances of winning the league rise dramatically. Creating goals off his own back is the one criticism levelled at the Norwegian and with the likely loss of the midfield maestro, Rodri, that may come into sharper focus this season. Dominik Szoboszlai – Liverpool Dominik Szoboszlai was a key part of Liverpool’s title winning side in 2024/25 and his contributions helped lift a woeful 2025/26 campaign. The Hungarian was among Liverpool’s leading creators last season, producing seven assists while recording 78 chances created and 68 key passes, according to the Reds’ season statistical breakdown.
The BriefWire