Homecomings dominating summer transfer window
Alvaro Morata and Mario Gotze are just some of players who have returned to their former clubs this summer The 2016 summer transfer window has already provided all kinds of twists and turns and produced enormous fees, whilst a number of players have retur
TMario Gotze
he German international quit Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2013 for Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, a decision that did not sit at all well with fans at the Westfalenstadion. Yet his Bayern career didn’t take off as many had expected it would, so three years later he returns to Western Germany in search of redemption.
Alvaro Morata
Real Madrid bought their academy product back from Juventus this summer, activating the buy-back clause that had been inserted in the striker’s contract when he left in 2014. His aim now is to break into Zinedine Zidane’s starting XI, which will be a tough task given the quality of the club’s BBC front line.
Denis Suarez
After two seasons away from the Camp Nou with Sevilla and Villarreal, the winger returns to Barcelona to fight for a first-team place. The Blaugrana are certainly not lacking in midfield quality, so he has plenty of work to do to convince Luis Enrique he should start.
Denis Cheryshev
The Russian returns to Villarreal, where he played in the 2014/15 season, but this time moves to El Madrigal on a permanent deal until 2021. He scored seven goals from midfield the last time he appeared for the Yellow Submarine and will hope to add to that tally.
Fabricio Coloccini
Following Newcastle United’s relegation from the Premier League, Coloccini returns home to Argentine side San Lorenzo. Having played for the team while on loan from AC Milan in 2000/01, he now returns at 34 years old.
Bruno Gama
Deportivo La Coruna have welcomed back Portuguese winger Bruno Gama this summer, a player who left in 2013 to play for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. His aim will be to impress new Deportivo coach Gaizka Garitano and to dazzle fans in Galicia as he did in his last spell.
Cata Diaz
Getafe have re-signed centreback Daniel ‘Cata’ Diaz in their attempt to win promotion back to La Liga at the first attempt. The 37-year-old had played for the capital city side between 2007 and 2012, before returning to Argentina to play for Boca Juniors.
Juande Ramos
It is not only players making homecomings this summer, as Juande Ramos returns to coach Malaga for a second time. After leaving the Andalusian side in 2004, he went on to manage Sevilla, Tottenham, Real Madrid, CSKA Moscow and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, but now finds himself back with Los Boquerones. Paul Pogba and Diego Costa? There could be more players returning home before the end of this transfer window, with Pogba close to a return to Manchester United and Diego Costa linked with Atletico Madrid. Only time will tell if the duo add their names to this above list before September 1.