Former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has opened up about the difficulties of switching leagues 13 years after the Spaniard made the move to the Emirates.
It comes as the transfer window closed on Monday evening, with £400million spent across the Premier League.
Crystal Palace’s reported £48million signing of striker Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves, Antoine Semenyo, who joined Manchester City from Bournemouth for £62.5million on January 9, and former Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City were among the big names to move.
Monreal, who retired in 2022, joined Arsenal on the final day of the January transfer window in 2013.
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He was signed from Spanish side Málaga for an undisclosed fee, estimated to be around £8.5million.
Speaking to the People's Channe; on the difficulty of changing clubs and leagues, Monreal said: "The biggest difference between the Premier League and La Liga is that the Premier League is much more physical than La Liga.
"In my opinion, both leagues are the best leagues in the world but I think playing in the Premier League is more difficult than playing in La Liga.
"You need to be stronger, there are more contacts. It's much more difficult. You need to be physically stronger... It's not easy."
Nacho Monreal has opened up about the difficulties of switching leagues
|GETTY
The Spanish international made his Premier League debut just two days later, on February 2 2013, in a 1-0 home victory against Stoke City.
Under manager Arsène Wenger, Arsenal moved to sign Monreal following a long-term injury to first-choice left-back Kieran Gibbs.
Despite admitting the difficulty in changing leagues, the defender achieved three FA Cups (2014, 2015, 2017) and three Community Shields during his time at the North London club.
He appeared 251 times for Arsenal, scoring 10 times.
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Nacho Monreal joined Arsenal on the final day of the January transfer window in 2013
|GETTY
The defender told the People's Channel: "I've seen many, many Spanish players coming from LaLiga to the Premier League, and they didn't succeed.
"They had to come back. So you need to adapt quickly. It's not easy.
"In my case, it took a few months. I remember when I came, at the beginning I started playing because Kieran Gibbs was injured and it took time for me to adapt.
"Once I did it, I became a better player and I was in the starting XI most of my time, but it's not easy."
Five facts about the Premier League | GETTY/GBNEWS/PAThis season, several notable players transitioned from La Liga to the Premier League, headlined by the winter return of Conor Gallagher, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Atlético Madrid for a fee between £35million and £40million.
In summer, Liverpool secured Georgian goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a £29million deal, while Wolves invested approximately £19million to sign young talent Fer López from Celta Vigo.
Southampton also boosted their squad by bringing in Canadian striker Cyle Larin on loan from Mallorca, and Nottingham Forest completed the free transfer of Antonito Cordero from Málaga.
Additionally, though involving a newly promoted side, Reinildo Mandava moved from Atlético Madrid to join Sunderland.
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