Player Focus: Nolito Continues to Improve as Barca Interest Mounts

Arguably the most remarkable scoreline of the season across Europe thus far, Celta Vigo's 4-1 rout over Barcelona highlighted the fact that the blaugrana have most certainly regressed after ending the previous campaign in spectacular fashion.

The game also showcased just what confidence can do for a player, with Iago Aspas - once of hilarious corner kick taking infamy at Liverpool - netting a sublime brace that, starting with a Messi-esque chip to make the score 2-0 to the hosts. That it came the day after Mario Balotelli had scored a sumptuous free-kick for AC Milan and on the same day that Liverpool were forced to penalties against Carlisle left Reds fans pulling their increasingly thinning hair out, but that's another story altogether.

Instead, stealing the limelight against his former club to continue a sensational start to the season - and indeed year for the Spanish forward - Nolito is apparently attracting interest from his ex-employers after yet another superb performance. For any attacking player to have the most touches of their team (66) against a team like Barcelona is a real rarity, but Celta's willingness to get the ball to the left flank was clear to see as Nolito ran the show for the hosts.

The 28-year old opened the scoring on Wednesday with a delightful curled effort, giving him the benefit of the doubt that it was indeed a shot - not the first player this season to try to catch Barca keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen out - before registering the assists for each of the aforementioned Aspas' strikes. His outstanding contribution to Celta's stunning victory was enough to earn a WhoScored rating of 8.89, taking his average for the campaign to 8.50. That score is enough to rank fourth of all players across Europe's top 5 leagues and first of all players in La Liga to start all five of their side's matches thus far.

It's little surprise. Nolito has now had a direct hand in 8 goals this season - each coming in his last 4 appearances - which is the most in Spain's top-flight. He has undoubtedly made a flying start, but Nolito's form has stretched back for some time now. Indeed, many have suggested that he should not only be a shoo-in for Vicente del Bosque's upcoming La Roja squad, but that he has been deserving of more than the meagre 2 international caps with which he has been rewarded to now.

Unquestionably a late bloomer, Celta Vigo saw something in the forward from a six-month loan spell with Granada to take a punt on Nolito. It has been a masterstroke. Formerly of Barcelona and Benfica, ultimately failing to make the grade with either despite a solid scoring record for the Portuguese outfit, the wide man has been sensational since making the switch to Vigo in 2013.

In that time, fielded predominantly from the left to allow him to cut inside both with and without the ball and support the central striker, Nolito has had a direct hand in 48 league goals, with his strike in midweek representing his 30th for the club. His importance to Celta Vigo is evidenced in having won 14 WhoScored man of the match awards - including 3 in 5 games already this season - a full 10 more than any other teammate since the 2013/14 season.

Well on course to better his best scoring season once more - having netted 12 and 13 respectively in the campaigns previous - it was Nolito's overall team play that was perhaps most impressive with regards to his development in 2014/15. Indeed, a tally of 13 league assists was bettered only by Messi, Ronaldo and Suarez in Spain's top tier. Along with that trio he was one of only 11 players across Europe's top 5 leagues to register double figures for both goals and assists.

If there is intelligent movement ahead of him, as Aspas provided on Wednesday, then Nolito has both the vision and precision to pick out through balls and reverse passes. Thus far this season the Spaniard has created the most chances in La Liga (17), whilst ranking third to Ronaldo and Messi for shots (21) and among the league’s top ten for successful dribbles (11).

That he currently tops the division in terms of unsuccessful dribbles (19) points towards the one real flaw in Nolito's game. He is very one-footed and, drifting onto his right and only ever really using that foot, he could do with greater variety to his dribbling to really stake a claim to be among the league's elite. Nevertheless, outside of the Barca-Madrid duopoly you will do well to find a more effective and consistent attacking threat.

It's perhaps a little curious that it took so long for Nolito to be a real hit in his homeland but he is certainly that now, and isn't the first to find his feet at a later stage in his career. There are also calls for Athletic hitman Aritz Aduriz to add to his solitary international cap at the grand old age of 34, and the Basque striker certainly seems to get better with age.

In contrast Spain have had issues with forwards that have very much been on the decline since hitting Nolito's age - see Torres, Soldado, Negredo - so having in-form, experienced attackers has been uncommon for Del Bosque. Nolito may not have as much experience to his name after a slow start to his senior career, but he is hitting peak form ahead of next summer's Euros and should surely be in contention.

If rumours that a return to Barca may be on the cards are true that could so easily derail his international hopes. For the neutral, it would be a real shame to see Nolito's playing time curtailed just as he is hitting his stride. Given Spain aren't exactly inundated with the attacking talent they once were, the Celta Vigo man should certainly be at the front of the queue to break back into the side.

Should Nolito be in line for a place in Spain's Euro 2016 squad? Let us know in the comments below