Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso has also been downgraded by EA in the official FIFA 15 player ratings. This one is understandable considering both Real and Spain suffered relatively-disappointing campaigns. Madrid may have won 'La Decima' - a 10th European crown - through they suffered heartache in La Liga and finished 3rd. Spain meanwhile were the defending World and European champions when they entered this summer's World Cup as one of the clear favourites but were shockingly knocked out at the group stages. Individually, Alonso muddled through a fair-to-middling campaign and struggled at times to break into Madrid's first team, starting just 18 of his 26 league appearances. Now aged 32, the veteran midfielder's career is starting to wind down. He has already retired from international football and probably doesn't have long left at club level, despite the fact he's just signed for Bayern Munich. He has retained his pace score of 55 from last year but there's not much gas left in the tank and this is one downgrade that does make sense.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
