It’s all action in a quiet week for LaLiga!
Considering that the domestic season is all but done – still the Segunda promotion playoffs to be settled but more of that later – there’s still plenty to talk about with the activities of the LaLiga clubs.
Firstly, Real Madrid were eliminated from the Champions League after home and away defeats to Manchester City. It’s the first time that Zinedine Zidane has lost a Champions League tie and seen his team leave the competition, either as a coach, or assistant coach with the club. It’s also the first time since the 1996-97 season that Atlético Madrid have gone further in a Champions League competition than Los Blancos. It’s hardly a watershed move in the balance of power, but is certainly something that the Real Madrid fans will expect to be corrected next term, but who will be in charge of the team by then?
The French coach was hardly brimming with delight and anticipation for the new season coming up shortly when asked about the future at the post-match press conference. Los Blancos is a club were political intrigue and innuendo flavours big decisions, and after Florentino Pérez suggested recently that big money signings were not on the table during this window, Zidane was quick enough to take the opportunity to deliver a prod in the ribs to his boss.
Evasion and answers that suggested the coach was tired and in need of a rest could be interpreted as a less than gentle reminder to Pérez that the coach has walked out before and is eminently capable of doing the same thing again, if he decides that it’s the right thing to do. Despite Barcelona’s positive noises about Quique Setién’s future, it’s not impossible the LaLiga’s big two clubs could have new men at the helm when the new season starts.
On the subject of new managerial appointments, the former Watford boss Javi Gracia has been appointed as Valencia head coach, but you wonder just what sort of a squad he’ll have to select from next season. With Ferran Torres already sold to Manchester City, informed talk is that Dani Parejo and Francis Coquelin are making the short trip to Villareal. The Yellow Submarine may well have torpedoed any prospects of Valencia prospering next season with the signings, especially if the rumours of a seemingly paltry €13million is all they’re getting back in return. Also joining is the exciting Japanese teenage prospect Takefusa Kubo. A season-long loan deal worth €2.5milllion seems like more than decent value. Coquelin will be joining another, albeit far more recent, Arsenal old boy at the Estadio de la Cerámica, as Unai Emery settles into the coach’s chair there. Although Emery hardly had the best of times in North London, the appointment on a three-year deal, looks sound and the signings suggest that that Villareal could well have a decent season, with even a Champions League spot potentially within their reach.
Fans at the Mestalla could well be looking at their neighbours with a hint of envy. As well as Torres, Parejo and Coquelin, rumours suggest that the club are expecting offers for Cillesssen, Kondogbia and Rodrigo. Inflating the bank account is fine, but Valencia will need to bring in some decent talent with the money they accrue or Gracia and fans of Los Murcelagos could be in for a rough old time.
Talking of transfers, the on-off saga of Croat Ivan Rakitic back to Sevilla from Barcelona was thrown into doubt again when the canny Monchi appeared to pour cold water on the proposed switch. The deal seemed to be on the cusp of completion with all parties favouring the move at a fee of around €10million being banded around. Now 32, but still a decent acquisition for Lopetegui to add into his squad, Rakatic had told Mundo Deportivo that he “would love to come back to Sevilla,” back in April. It seems likely that he will get his wish in the end, but Monchi’s deadly talent in the transfer market suggests some hard negotiations and a reduced fee may well be the pathway to getting the deal over the line.
Another member of the veterans’ club is also on the move as much travelled striker Álvaro Negredo pitches up for newly promoted Cádiz. Despite his age, Negredo could be just the sort of experienced talent that the Andalusian club need to garner a few important goals and steady the ship in the top tier. A one-year deal with the option of a further one, also restricts the club’s exposure. It could well be a canny sort of move.
In other transfer news, Tenerife’s Luis Pérez seems bound for Real Valladolid with a contract running up to 2023. Former Brazilian star striker Ronaldo owns 80% of the club, and has said he wants them to progress and prosper, but to do so with a sensible financial strategy. A thirteenth-place finish last season was hardly massively encouraging, so let’s see what else happens at the Estadio José Zorrilla. Osasuna are also recruiting, with Eintracht Frankfurt’s midfielder Lucas Torro returning to El Sadar after a couple of seasons in the Bundesliga, with the Pamplona club apparently offering €2million for his services.
Returning to the Segunda play-offs, there’s also a bit of transfer complication there as well. Real Zaragoza brought Watford’s Luis Suárez in on loan for the season, but the truncated nature of things means his month-defined deal ran out before the playoffs and Watford refused to extend the deal. How important could that be to Zaragoza? Well, Suárez scored 19 goals for the club in his time there, the next highest scorer notched merely five. It means that Elche, who had their play-off place confirmed after Deportivo de La Coruña finally got to complete their league fixture against Fuenlabrada last Friday. The team from the Estadio Fernando Torres sent a weakened team up to Galicia, but looked to have the game won after Pathé Ciss gave them an 11th minute lead and the game was in its death throes, but Claudio Beauvue equalised with two minute to play and then scored the decisive penalty five minutes into added time. It was the latest of late reprieves for Elche, but perhaps their name is fated for progress.
In the other semi-final, Girona face off against Almeria. With the games played on Thursday and Sunday, you’ll probably know at least the outcome of the first legs when you read this, but I’ll stick my neck out a bit here and say I fancy an Almeria v Elche decider and Los Franjiverdes just edging over the line to bring Primera División football back to the Estadio Martínez Valero. Look, they’re my local club, so I can hope, can’t I? Let’s see how it pans out and we’ll talk again. Hasta la próxima semana mis amigos!