S
pain had hit the billion-Euro
mark before the madness had
even really begun. The transfer
window had only been open for
two weeks and La Liga spending had
already gone higher than ever. By
Monday morning, July 15, it was past
€1,000million and rising.
And while clubs were doing their
business surprisingly early – whatever
happened to manana, manana? – it
wasn’t over yet. There were still six-
and-a-half weeks left, and some of the
biggest, most complex deals still awaited.
Everywhere, everyone was going wild.
Well, almost everyone; as usual, Athletic
Bilbao were a case apart.
At the very start of the summer, one
La Liga coach confided that this might
be the busiest summer anyone could
remember. In all probability there would
be more arrivals and more departures
than there had ever been. He was talking
about his own club, but he could just as
well have been talking about them all.
Joao Felix €126million, Antoine
Griezmann €120m, Eden HazardSpending hits new heights
KIERAN TRIPPIER
(Atletico Madrid)
The first Englishman to play for
Atletico in 90 years, but how
will he adapt? If ever there
was a coach to improve a
defender it is Diego Simeone
and it could be a great move.JACK HARPER
(Getafe)
Signed from Malaga, Getafe
have made a success of taking
players from the second tier,
although the 23-year-old
Scottish striker’s opportunities
may be limited to start with.(^) ENRICH GALLEGO
(Getafe)
Another second-tier striker,
signed from Huesca, the
former truck driver and
bricklayer hadn’t even played
in the Segunda Division until
the start of last season.
(^) FRENKIE DE JONG
(Barcelona)
The debate about Barca’s style
is never-ending, so too the
complaints about their signings
and a perceived loss of
identity. With the Dutchman,
everyone is happy for once.
(^) BORJA IGLESIAS
(Espanyol)
The man they call “The Panda”
is the complete striker. Superb
for Espanyol last season, he is
expected to move on this term
- and whoever gets him will
have themselves a gem.
€100m: they led the way, the stars that
captured the early imagination, but there
were others. Many others. Even the
Premier League trailed behind.
For the first time in 11 years, Spain
was outspending England – for a while,
at least.
By mid-July, five of the eight most
expensive signings in Europe had been
made by Spanish clubs. Two of the other
three – Rodri to Manchester City and
Lucas Hernandez to Bayern Munich –
had come from Spanish clubs, which
helps to explain things. And while mostof the headlines, as usual, were for Real
Madrid and Barcelona, it was Atletico
who are the real outliers, with their vast
expenditure driven by sales.
With Real Madrid’s season over
by mid-March, the remaining months
acted as a trial, giving Zinedine Zidane a
chance to see which players he wanted
and which he didn’t want. After a year of
failure, things had to change and Madrid
were swift to move.
Rodrygo’s €45m move from Santos
was completed. Eden Hazard arrived
from Chelsea, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Luka
Jovic cost €60m, Porto’s Eder Militao
€50m and Monaco’s Ferland Mendy
€48m. Zidane still wants a midfielder,
with Paul Pogba favourite, but that
means selling first.
The “to go” list is long: Theo
Hernandez has joined Milan, Dani
Ceballos moved on loan to Arsenal,
Sergio Reguilon is at Sevilla on loan,Season preview 2019-20
SPAIN LA LIGA
For the first time in 11 years,
Spain was outspending England
- for a while, at least
xyxyxxyxyxyyx
xyxyxyxyu
xyxyyx
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Addition...
Barcelona’s
Antoine
GriezmannThrashing...Diego Costa scores from the
penalty spot as Atletico Madrid beat city
rivals Real 7-3 in a pre-season friendly