Another busy week on the transfer front, although the biggest news over the last few days was about Tito Vilanova's recurrent illness, the Barcelona coach reluctantly deciding to step down as a result. The club moved quickly to replace him, signing up Gerardo "Tata" Martino, a manager who has never coached in Europe, but who has had considerable success in South America, in particular in charge of the Paraguayan national side. Tata is also from Messi's home town of Rosario in Argentina, and he was in fact the footballing idol of Messi's father during his playing days! Elsewhere Spanish internationals Negredo, Albiol and Reina will all be changing clubs, although none will be plying their trade in La Liga next season, the former joining Jesús Navas at big spending Manchester City, and the other two moving to Rafa Benítez's Napoli. Sevilla have signed Bacca and Gameiro to take over from Negredo & Navas, and Real Madrid are still hoping to entice Gareth Bale away from Tottenham. For that though they need more cash than they have generated so far (especially after signing Isco and Illarramendi), and Higuaín is expected to be the next to leave in the next few days for the aforementioned Napoli, the third Real Madrid player to join the Italian side this summer. (22.07.13)
Player (Country) | Old club | New club | Position/Comments |
Ustari (ARG) | Boca Juniors (ARG) | Almería | GK Ex Getafe keeper returns to Spain after one year back home. Signs two year contract. |
Isma López | Athletic Bilbao | Sporting Gijón | MF Has to move on to make room for new signings, so opts to join Sporting on one year loan. |
Pulido | Atlético Madrid | Real Madrid Castilla | DF Has given up trying to hold down first team spot, and accepts move to team who tried to sign him last year. |
Tito Vilanova | Barcelona | No club | MG Tito having to step down after cancer relapse. Replacement to be announced next week. Thoughts are with him and his family. |
"Tata" Martino (ARG) | No club | Barcelona | MG Club acting quickly to replace Vilanova, signing ex Paraguay & Newells OB coach on 2 year deal. |
Braian Rodríguez (URU) | Huachipato (CHL) | Betis | FW Striker is second signing from Chilean club after Lorenzo Reyes. |
Jordi Figueras | Club Brugge (BEL) / Rayo Vallecano | Betis | DF Rayo wanted him on loan again, but Brugge wanted sale, and Betis stepped in with offer. |
Steinhöfer (GER) | Basel (SWI) | Betis | DF Full back is out of contract and joins Betis on 3 year deal. Has Italian girlfriend, so should be able to pick up the lingo? |
Angel | Betis | Las Palmas | DF Ex Spanish international following in the footsteps of Valerón, and returning to Canary Isles. Manuel Pablo next? |
Rubén Pérez | Atlético Madrid / Betis | Elche | MF Appeared to have agreed new loan deal at Betis, but deal hit snags and now confirmed he will be loaned to Elche instead. |
Sapunaru (ROM) | Zaragoza | Elche | DF Close to signing 3 year deal, but transfer called off for now after player's wife refused to move back to Spain from Romania. |
Pelayo | Elche | Córdoba | MF Newly promoted side making room for new additions. Young midfielder goes on loan to Córdoba, their 9th summer signing. |
Forlín (ARG) | Espanyol | Al Rayyan (QTR) | DF Had a year to run on contract, but accepted 2.3 Mio bid from Qatar which also doubled his salary. |
Alexandre Coeff (FRA) | Udinese (ITA) / Lens (FRA) | Granada | MF Italian club bought him from France and will be loaning him to Granada, latest in a long list |
Iriney (BZL) | Granada | Watford (ENG) | MF Another move between clubs controlled by Udinese's Pozzo family. Moves to UK on loan for a year. |
Ikechi Anya (SCO) | Granada | Watford (ENG) | MF Moved to Watford on loan last year, and now signs 3 year contract. Another Udinese-led deal. |
Kitoko / Jona | Granada | Real Jaén | MF / FW Both players loaned out after previous loan spells at Girona & Vitoria Guimaraes. |
Iván López | Levante | Girona | DF Under 20 international full back moves on one year loan to gain experience. |
Nuñez (PAR) | Club Libertad (PAR) | Osasuna | FW Have signed the striker on loan with buy out option to replace Kike Sola, who went to Athletic. |
Nano | Osasuna | Alavés | DF Winger converted left back told he had little future in Pamplona, so rescinds contract and signs 2 year deal at Alavés. |
Timor | Osasuna | Girona | MF Catalans having to rebuild squad after many players moved on. Midfielder joins on loan to get playing time. |
Saúl Ñíguez | Atlético Madrid B | Rayo Vallecano | MF Several clubs wanted youth international on loan, but finally agreed for him to stay in Madrid at Rayo. |
Leonel Galeano (ARG) | Independiente de Avellaneda (ARG) | Rayo Vallecano | DF Central defender already training with Rayo, although still have to iron out a few points in agreement. |
Dani Giménez | Rayo Vallecano | Alcorcón | GK Contract not renewed after 4 seasons at Rayo, and has agreed to join Alcorcón on one year contract. |
Raúl Albiol | Real Madrid | Napoli (ITA) | DF Tired of waiting to see if Pepe moving on or not, and agreed to join Benítez for fee of around 12 Mio. |
Gameiro (FRA) | Paris St. Germain (FRA) | Sevilla | FW Signing of Cavani meant he had to move on, and will join Sevilla, who themselves needed replacements for Negredo & Navas. |
Carriço (POR) | Reading (ENG) | Sevilla | DF Signing Portuguese defender on loan, with 2 Mio buy out option at end of year. |
Diogo Figueiras (POR) | Paços de Ferreira (POR) | Sevilla | DF Got ahead of Porto to sign right back as competition for Coke. Signs four year deal. |
Negredo | Sevilla | Manchester City (ENG) | FW Spanish international striker will be joining Pellegrini & Navas after fee agreed of around 28 Mio. |
Nelson Valdez (PAR) | Valencia | Al Jazira (UAE) | FW Will be joining Luis Milla in Abu Dhabi, together with Getafe's Abdel. Fee of 3 Mio, close to what they paid for him. |
Omar Ramos | Huesca | Valladolid | MF Was on loan last season, and have made move permanent after Huesca relegated. Signs for 4 years. |
Albert Serrán | AEK Larnaca (CYP) | Alcorcón | DF Defender returns to Spain after 5 years playing for Swansea and Larnaca. One year contract to begin with. |
Juan Muñiz | Sporting Gijón | Córdoba | MF Another Spanish youth international changing clubs, although this time move is only on loan for a season. |
Eduard Campabadal | Wigan (ENG) | Córdoba | DF Ex Barça B youth international full back decides to return to Spain after 18 months playing for "Bob". |
Xisco | No club | Córdoba | FW Ex Depor & Newcastle striker finally acceptsd offer to stay in Andalusia. Signs for 3 years. |
Matías Campos (CHL) | Udinese / Siena (ITA) | Hércules | DF Yet another loan move from Udinese! How many do they have on their books? Chilean international plays on left flank. |
Fran Sandaza | Rangers (SCO) | Lugo | FW Forward returns to Spain after 5 years playing for Dundee United, Brighton, St. Johnstone and Rangers. |
Hutton (SCO) | Aston Villa (ENG) | Mallorca | DF Scottish right back was going to stay on permanent move after contract ran out following loan, but deal appears to have hit snags. |
Brozek (POL) | Recreativo | Wisla Krakow (POL) | FW Polish striker agrees to rescind contract and return to old club after failing to win first team spot. |
Scepovic (SER) | Partizan Belgrade (SER) | Sporting Gijón | FW Sandoval has got his striker! Forward arrives on loan, with buy out option at end of season. |
Trejo / Sangoy (ARG) | Sporting Gijón | Toulouse (FRA) / Apollon (CYP) | FW Two of the highest paid players allowed to leave to cut costs. Trejo goes for 2.1 Mio, Sangoy free. |
David Vidal | No club | Xerez | MG New owners have signed experienced manager, but club only has one player left and is in danger of disappearing! |
Reina | Liverpool (ENG) | Napoli (ITA) | GK Signing of Mignolet meant he was no longer automatic first choice for keeper, so agrees to join Rafa on loan. |