Five to watch: La Liga’s most interesting summer moves
AFP Sport looks at five of the most notable offseason transfers in the Spanish top flight:
Aurelien Tchouameni Monaco to Real Madrid for reported 80 million euros ($81.6m) plus 20 million euros in potential bonuses
Once upon a time Real Madrid reportedly wanted Paul Pogba, but in his compatriot Tchouameni the club has bought a player who represents the future of the France midfield, alongside his new club colleague Eduardo Camavinga.
The 22-year-old Tchouameni moved to the European champion from Monaco for a fee that could reportedly reach 100 million euros. He has signed a six-year deal after an outstanding two and a half years at Monaco.
Tchouameni, whose father is a pharmacist, began his career at Bordeaux. He made his full international debut for France last year and has already won 12 caps. He will help ease the burden on Madrid’s veteran midfield trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich to Barcelona for 45 million euros plus five million euros in add-ons
Barcelona’s offseason transfer business has been remarkable given the enormous debt crippling the club. President Joan Laporta has overseen a fire sale of Barcelona’s present and future assets to enable it to strengthen the squad now, including 25 percent of its domestic television rights for a quarter century to an American investment fund.
And so the club has gone into the market to make five major signings, topped by that of the Best FIFA Men’s Player for 2021, Lewandowski. The Pole will turn 34 later this month but Barca agreed to pay Bayern up to 50 million euros for him. The player has signed a five-year deal.
Barcelona is getting a striker who scored 344 goals in eight years at Bayern, as it targets a first Spanish title since 2019 and a first Champions League since 2015. Barca just needs to make sure it can register him and the rest of its new recruits, but La Liga’s strict financial control rules are complicating that.
Jules Kounde Sevilla to Barcelona for reported 50 million euros plus 10 million in bonuses
It was arguably Barcelona’s defense that was in more urgent need of reinforcements and the Catalans had already swooped to sign Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen before committing another large transfer fee to sign Kounde from La Liga rival Sevilla.
The 23-year-old French international centerback — who played with Tchouameni at Bordeaux — signed a five-year deal at Camp Nou after three outstanding seasons in Andalusia. His arrival could accelerate the phasing out of Gerard Pique from coach Xavi Hernandez’s firstteam plans.
Isco Real Madrid to Sevilla, free transfer
Out of contract after nine seasons at Real Madrid, Isco has returned to his native Andalusia to sign for Sevilla on a two-year deal. The 30-year-old former Malaga attacking midfielder played in four Champions League final wins with Madrid but by last season his influence had been reduced to such an extent that he did not feature at all in the club’s run to another European title, and he started only three games in La Liga.
However, Isco will now hope to relaunch his career with a Sevilla side who finished fourth last season and needs to add depth as it prepares for a Champions League campaign. He intends to repay the faith shown in him by coach Julen Lopetegui. “I need to show him that he did not make a mistake,” he said.
That said, it is in defense where Sevilla really needed to strengthen this summer, after losing Diego Carlos to Aston Villa as well as Kounde.
Axel Witsel Borussia Dortmund to Atletico Madrid, free transfer
The 33-year-old Belgian international joins Atletico on a one-season deal after four years in Germany. Witsel should be a perfect fit in a Diego Simeone side, boosting an Atletico midfield that has seen Hector Herrera depart to North America’s Major League Soccer. However, he has also been employed in central defense in preseason.
Whether he can make a team, which has also seen Luis Suarez depart, into a genuine title contender again may be another matter altogether.