Re: La Liga

Liverpool CEO, Ian Ayre is reportedly in Sevilla to negotiate the transfer of Spanish international left-back, Alberto Moreno.

According to The Mirror via El Correo de Andalusia, Ayre is currently in the south of Spain as he tries to finalise a deal that is believes to be worth €18 million.

Sevilla president, Jose Castro and sporting director Monchi both confirmed several weeks ago that negotiations with Liverpool over Moreno were dead and didn’t expect the English club to come back and meet their asking price, however, after the €81 million sale of Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Liverpool are flush with cash and able to match Sevilla’s asking price.

The report goes on to add that Liverpool are expected to finalise the deals for both Moreno and Swansea defender Ben Davies in the coming days, while Ayre is also expected to discuss the transfer of former Celta Vigo star, Iago Aspas to Sevilla, after an unsuccessful first season at Anfield.

Re: La Liga

Barcelona president, Josep Maria Bartomeu confirmed that there will be a minimum of two more signings for the club this summer, while the president stated that the door will be left open for legendary midfielder, Xavi Hernandez to decide his future.

In a recent interview, Bartomeu discussed that will six weeks until the start of the 2014-15 season, the club will continue to make signings as the 2014 World Cup comes to an end and there will be a new centre-back.

“At the very least we need to replace Carles Puyol, he’s retired from football and has agreed to help Zubizarreta in sports management. There’ll be a minimum of one or two more players coming in on defense. The amount of transfers is still left to be determined, but there will be at least two more.”

Bartomeu then discussed the situation of Xavi Hernandez and his future with the club.

“We’re awaiting news on the departure of Xavi Hernandez. He has the right to decide his own future when he wants. He has two more years remaining on his contract with the club, but if Xavi believes a change needs to be made, we’d be happy to help him. He’s earned the right to choose. He’s been in the first team for 16 or 17 years and has won many titles; he’s a player from our own youth system that’s won more titles than anyone. Xavi will decide what he wants to do. We’ll see what happens. There’s a month and a half and we’ll keep working.”

Bartomeu went on to insist that even if Xavi does leave, there will be one player from the youth system that will continue his leadership in Andres Iniesta, who is “a veteran player who is young and a veteran at the same time.”

The President also added that lthough some players have left, one will not, Leo Messi.

“Messi is non-transferable. He’s our player, who has evolved into a leader of this team’s construction. He is a Cule and Catalan-Argentinean.

Barcelona has brought in several non-La Masia made players in Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez, Claudio Bravo and Marc Andre Ter Stegen this summer, but stressed they are not moving away from the youth system that has brought them so much glory over the past decade.

“If we haven’t found what we’re looking for in the youth system, then we’ve signed from the outside. Decisions on signing players like Rakitic and Suarez have been made because we weren’t able to find players that match their qualities in Barcelona B. We have a lot of up and coming talent that will surely make their way onto the first team. Others like Deulofeu or Rafinha who had to gain experience outside, have come back with more guarantees. We haven’t changed our philosophy. Maybe we’ll make more decisions like we did with Deulofeu and Rafinha, because they are things that help them grow as players.”

Bartomeu concluded by praising new manager, Luis Enrique, who is excited for the team’s future.

“We’ll see a Luis Enrique with excitement and strength. I have no objections. We know him very well. He was with us in Barcelona B and he did very well. He’s an incredible ambitious person and he’s a very hard worker.”

Re: La Liga

Former Cameroon U2o international Patrick Ekeng has joined newly promoted Córdoba, the club has announced, with the 24-year-old signing a tgwo-year deal.

Córdoba are certainly keeping themselves active in the transfer market this summer, hoping to strengthen their squad sufficiently, to ensure their first season back in the Primera in 42 years, isn’t just a fleeting visit.

On Monday, the Andaluz club officially announced that they have secured the services of defensive midfielder, Patrick Ekeng, who joins on a free transfer from Swiss side, Lausanne.

The 24-year-old earned a number of caps with the Cameroon U20 side and started his career with Canon Yaoundé, before heading to France with Le Mans, where he made 35 first-team appearances over three seasons.

Ekeng has signed a two-year contract with Córdoba, but also has the option of a third, if everything goes well for him in La Liga.

Córdoba sporting director Pedro Cordero is certainly leaving no stone unturned this summer, strengthening the squad, with local reports suggesting that his shortlist of options contains as many as a hundred players.

Re: La Liga

André Gomes and Rodrigo Moreno have reportedly left Benfica pre-season camp as both as set to undergo medicals at Valencia on Monday morning.

According to Spanish radio station, Cadena COPE, Valencia are making a statement after a very slow start to the transfer season by bringing in both André Gomes and Rodrigo Moreno from Portuguese league champions, Benfica.

The duo left Benfica’s pre-season camp together and arrived in Valencia on Sunday evening, where they will undergo medicals and join the team for Tuesday’s training under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

The 20-year-old Gomes has spent his entire career with Benfica’s youth system and has played sparingly since joining the first team in 2012.

On the last day of this past winter transfer window, Benfica sold 100% of Gomes’ economic rights to a a third party investment firm, Meriton Capital Limited, for €15 million, plus 25% of a future transfer fee.

Meanwhile, Rodrigo Moreno, whose rights were also sold to Meriton Capital Limited, has been on the radar of many Spanish teams since leaving Real Madrid’s youth system and joining Benfica in 2010, where the 23-year-old striker has made a name for himself and has put himself into the Spanish national team picture.

Meriton Capital Limited is owned by Singaporean businessman, Peter Lim, who is also on the verge of purchasing, Valencia CF.

Re: La Liga

No, we’re not joking. Getafe really have signed Yoda… 25-year-old winger Karim Abdoul Yoda, who joins on a free transfer from Romanian side, Astra Giurgiu.

French born and of Ivorian descent, central midfielder Karim Abdoul Yoda has been brought in to strengthen the squad for the 2014-2015 campaign in La Liga, with the 25-year-old joining from Astra Girurgiu.

In keeping with the limited funds available at Getafe, the player has joined on a free transfer and has signed a two-year contract.

Yoda started his professional career with Swiss side Servette FC, breaking through from their youth ranks to make over 50 appearances. From there he moved on to FC Sion, making 70 appearances in all competitions. Last season, he made 21 appearances and scored 2 goals in the Romanian Liga 1.

Having successfully completed his medical and paperwork, Yoda now heads to the Getafe pre-season training base in Segovia, where he’ll get to work with his new team-mates.

Re: La Liga

Granada goalkeeper Roberto Fernández is enthusiastic about how pre-season has started, under the orders of new manager Joaquín Caparrós. He’s also very confident that the team can enjoy a successful 2014-2015 campaign in La Liga.

After the Granada squad commenced their second week of pre-season training on Monday, it was the turn of experienced goalkeeper Roberto Fernández, to hold a press call. The main theme he discussed was the sense of enthusiasm in the squad, with everyone keen to prove themselves to new manager, Joaquín Caparrós.

“The whole group has returned with a lot of enthusiasm, keen and hungry. Most of all, everyone is eager to work hard and keen to improve.”

Asked for his first impressions of the work done so far in pre-season, the 35-year-old explained that whilst there’s an obvious period of adaption to the new manager and his requirements, everything is going very well.

“We have the new coaching team and we’re all working hard to improve each day, so that we can have a good season. We’re doing some really good work, adapting to the new coaching staff and the way they work. I think we’ve got off to a great start and we’re on the right track.”

Roberto has made 115 appearances for Granada over the last four seasons, with the upcoming 2014-2015 campaign being his fourth consecutive season in the Spanish top-flight, having helped them gain promotion from the Segunda via the play-offs in 2010-2011.

Looking ahead to the new season, Roberto is filled with confidence that it can be a very good season for Granada.

“I think we’ve got a year of hard work ahead of us, but I’m totally confident this year will be a big success.”

An important part of the new coaching team that joined Granada with manager Joaquín Caparrós, is goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis, who Costa Rican keeper Keylor Navas has highlighted as a huge influence in his improvement. Roberto is also enjoying working with his new coach so far, assuring that there will be strong competition for himself, with Macedonia U21 international Stole Dimitrievski, along with Oier Olazábal, who was signed over the weekend from Barcelona.

“The most important thing is the level of enthusiasm, the desire to improve and I look forward to training every day. We’re working very hard to ensure that Oier, Dimitrievski and myself, are the best goalkeepers we can be.”

Re: La Liga

Levante striker David Barral isn’t worried about the potential sales of leading players like Keylor Navas, aware that the club will always have to sell, in order to balance the books. He’s also happy with how pre-season has started with new manager, José Luis Mendilibar.

Speaking at a press call following training on Monday, striker David Barral was asked for his thoughts about the possibility of Keylor Navas heading to Bayern Munich. His response was realistic, understanding the facts of life at a modest club.

“We’re a humble team and any sales are always going to be a plus for the accounts of the club.”

Levante are already into their pre-season schedule and as such, Barral was asked for his first impressions of working with new coach, José Luis Mendilibar.

“We’re glad to have the new coach. One step at a time, we’re getting to know what he wants from us, along with his requirements for La Liga. He already knows most of us and our characteristics. Now we’re training as hard as we can, so we’re ready for the start of La Liga.”

The 31-year-old striker also indicated that the football Mendilibar is training his team to play, will differ from that of Caparrós last season.

“At the moment we’re doing a lot of work with the ball, which is something all the players like. This is so that when we get going in La Liga, the aim is to move the ball around well, have possession and play the best way we can.”

Although there are key departures in the pipeline, Barral also expects the club to make new signings, assuring that good additions will always strengthen the Levante team.

“We’ll welcome any new signing with arms wide open. The better the players we have, the better the team will be. We must stay in the Primera for many years, because this is such a great club and the fans who support us are fantastic.”

Re: La Liga

Barcelona legend and one of the most important figures in the club’s history has lashed out at the club’s actions, and doesn’t believe that the board lead by Josep María Bartomeu has done the right thing by signing Liverpool’s Luis Suárez.

Cruyff has voiced his discontent about Barcelona’s current situation multiple times, and this time, according to Dutch paper De Telegraaf, he has criticized the decision to sign Luis Suárez.

“Suárez is an excellent footballer, but his own character”, Cruyff stated.

“I don’t understand how Barca can play with Messi, Neymar and Suárez in the team. Those three are individualists. It’s clear that Barca prefers individual actions ahead of a team that plays good football.

“The style of play that Rijkaard and Guardiola developed is being abandoned more and more.”

Cruyff also praised the newly crowned World Champions Germany, who, according to him, deserved their title.

“They played the best football. They, along with Bayern Munich, demonstrated that you can still achieve great things with attractive football. They play football that Barca are distancing themselves from.”

Re: La Liga

Given the exodus of players from the Vicente Calderon over the transfer window, what shape will Atletico Madrid find themselves in when they are tasked with defending their league title next season?

“I’ll be an Atletico for the rest of my life,” Filipe Luis emotionally told the assembled journalists at the press conference following the announcement of his transfer to Chelsea. Although the defender made it clear that the move was “the most difficult decision [he] has ever made in his life”, his departure fits perfectly into a depressing pattern. Filipe Luis is the fourth player from Atletico Madrid’s league-winning side to make his way to Stamford Bridge over the course of this transfer window, following Diego Costa, Thibaut Courtois, and Tiago Mendes.

Meanwhile, David Villa has left for NYCFC, although he will play on loan at Melbourne City until the MLS season begins in March, while winger Adrian Lopez has made a move to Portuguese side, Porto.

Atleti have made signings in an attempt to plug the gaps, which are most obvious when one looks at their weakened attack. Chief among them would be Mario Mandzukic, who arrived amidst much fanfare from Bayern Munich for 22 million euros, a direct replacement for Diego Costa. Angel Correa’s transfer from San Lorenzo should have been one to celebrate as well, but the ‘new Aguero’ was dealt a tragic blow as it was revealed that the 19 year old forward would have to refrain from all footballing activity for a minimum of six months in order to monitor his condition, after a tumor was found in his heart.

If Atleti fail to sign another prolific attacker, which looks to be the case unless they manage to negotiate a loan deal for Romelu Lukaku, their initial target Juan Iturbe signing for Roma, it will be pivotal that Mandzukic finds his feet quickly, and in a big way. Diego Costa and David Villa scored a combined total of 52 of Atleti’s 116 goals in all competitions, and the Croatian will be tasked with delivering at least half of that total if the club are to achieve anything close to last season’s success.

Looking at the recent string of leading strikers at the Calderon, there is cause for optimism. As Diego Simeone laid it out following Costa’s departure: “Fernando Torres left, Diego Forlan left, Sergio Aguero left, Radamel Falcao left, and now Costa and David Villa have moved on- and the team has remained competitive.” The primary issue that Mandzukic will encounter is expectation. None of the Atleti sides that those strikers spearheaded faced the expectation that the current team does. While in the past, Champions League qualification was seen as a huge achievement, having won La Liga last season, anything less than retaining their title will bring about disappointment, even if logic dictates that it was a miraculous feat to achieve, let alone repeat.

Thibaut Courtois will be missed immensely, but it was not something that the club was unprepared for, seeing as his return to Chelsea after a three-year loan spell at Atleti was inevitable. The Belgian won the Zamora trophy in his latter 2 seasons at the Vicente Calderon, his goal to game ratio of 0.65 in the 2013-14 campaign bettered only by Victor Valdes since the turn of the century. Amazing though those statistics may be, they were achieved with the aid of an impenetrable back line, which has largely been kept intact. The club did well to extend the contracts of Juanfran and Diego Godin up to 2018, and transfer speculation regarding Miranda has died down, with suitors reluctant to meet his 30 million euro release clause. Although Filipe Luis has left, Guilherme Siqueira, who won the Portuguese treble playing at Benfica last season on loan from Granada, has been purchased for 10 million euros and will slot in at left back.

Siqueira will be joined by his former Benfica teammate Jan Oblak. Atleti have gone to town in signing Courtois’ replacement, forking out 16 million euros for Oblak, making the 21-year-old Slovenian the most expensive goalkeeper in the history of La Liga. Fans of the Rojiblancos will be praying that he can takeover from Courtois the way the Belgian did when David de Gea left the club for Manchester United in 2011.

The club has also managed to keep hold of Koke and Gabi. While Atleti may have lost their top two goal scorers, they have maintained their top two league-assist-makers. Koke, with 13 assists and Gabi, with 8, have both signed contract extensions that will keep them at the club until 2019 and 2017, respectively.

A major determinant of Atleti’s success in the upcoming season will depend on whether or not Lady Luck is kind to them by way of injuries. Up until the 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou on the final day of the league season, Atleti’s squad remained relatively injury free, and the importance that this had on their season cannot be stressed enough. While a relatively unchanged side’s ability to put aside fatigue and grind out victories is certainly no easy act, it is not often that a team is able to evade an injury crisis the way Atleti were able to. Club captain Gabi was revealed to have played with a broken rib during the final month of the season, which begs the question as to what would have happened if that injury were aggravated on the pitch, and if that risk was necessary.

It is difficult to predict which Atletico Madrid players will be present to lift the league trophy that they helped win when it is presented to them on the first day of the new season. It is even more difficult to predict if they will be able to retain it. It will almost certainly be more difficult to win than it was last season, with both Madrid and Barcelona having reinforced during the summer. Atleti’s success has ironically left them weaker than they were 12 months ago, their best players turning into transfer targets for other clubs. With a transfer budget still dwarfed by those of Madrid and Barcelona, they have been unable to bring in players of the same caliber as their direct rivals.

However, the chief reason for Atletico Madrid’s success over the past few seasons has been the Simeone factor. Since his arrival, the team has gotten progressively better, and ahead of his fourth season at the helm, there is no reason to begin doubting the capabilities of the Argentine. Whether it is fear, respect, or a combination of both, Diego Simeone has always been able to get the very best out of his players since his appointment as head coach in December of 2011. Motivation, more than anything, was what characterized the Rojiblancos last season. Fighting for every ball, closing down every opponent, the teams that they couldn’t outplay, they terrorized into submission. And that drive, if anything, will be what they have to maintain if they are to retain their league title.

Re: La Liga

The magnate was feeling prejudiced by several parts and was on the brink of withdrawing his offer. Now, a month later, the sale is still not final, and the fans are left worrying whether it will be in time for making the needed investments in players. The radicalisation of the fronts for and against the sale has kept the information war raging, and as we have mentioned, even the press is split in what news are reported and with what angle. Trying to stay on neutral ground, let us take a look at how things stand.

Parts of the press have questioned Peter Lim’s real interest in actually ending up buying the club, claiming interest also in Malaga and speculating that he will withdraw sooner or later. A look at the facts indicate the opposite however (never mind Al-Thani denying any conversations), as Lim has endured a sale process most would have left a long time ago, facing some serious obstacles. Lim’s willingness to loan Andre Gomes and Rodrigo to the club also signals his intention to see things out. But it is indications and intentions, not proof as the pro-sale/Salvo fraction would claim. The risk for Lim is next to none, as long as the players are only on loan.

So, why is the sale not yet completed? Well, there are several reasons. In the following We will give you a quick overview:

1) Porchinos

When Juan Soler planned Valencia’s future, he had two real estate plans going. The building of Nou Mestalla and a new sports complex in Porchinos would replace the subsequently sold Mestalla and Paterna and leave the club with a profit of 100 million euros. As the Mestalla sale never happened and Nou Mestalla is but a sad reminder about what could have been, Valencia has never had the money to start building in Porchinos. Porchinos is a very complex issue involving land regulation and several companies, bankruptcy and banks. The main reason Lim won’t take any risk on this topic is that it might cost the club up to 160 million euros if a lawsuit currently considered is approved in court.

2) Newcoval

This was Llorente’s project to finish Nou Mestalla together with the banks and a company called Aedifica. The banks originally involved have been absorbed by Bankia Habitat (a section of the same bank involved in the sale of the club), who now own 50%. José Granell, the CEO of Aedifica claim the contract is still valid and threaten with a lawsuit if Newcoval is not a part of finishing the stadium. Bankia contradicts this and posessing 50% of Newcoval they have now blocked any further action from Granell. In Lim’s eyes this one is therefore resolved

3)Share increase of 2009.

A Valencian lawyer Andres Sanchis has had a lawsuit running against Llorente’s management of the club for the much debated share increase that led to Fundación owning the club. If this was approved by the courts, it could endanger Lim’s right to the shares acquired from Fundación. The lawsuit has now been adjusted, and the club has chosen to join in on the lawsuit against the previous management for damages to the club. This is also assumed to have solved this issue.

4) The Fundación members personal juridical responsibility. There was quite a bit of unrest among the people who would vote over the final contract from Lim because they had been unaware of which legal position they would remain in once the vote had been carried through. They can be held personally responsible for any decision that ends up negative to the club. A document clarifying this has been distributed from the club’s lawyers and it seems that the calm has once again entered among the trustees.

5) Details pending in the contract between Bankia and Meriton.

Even though an agreement was announced in June, this was an oral agreement. The writing of this into documents is often a tedious process dominated by each sides legal experts. That Bankia for some reason chose to write the first version in Spanish did nothing to help speed up the process. The versions are constantly being exchanged between the two sides and is nearing completion.

6) The actual vote.

Why is there need of another vote you might ask? Well, the first vote was over a proposal, from Lim and others, where his was chosen as the best one to enter final negotiations. After these negotiations with Bankia and the club, the new proposal has changed. First and foremost the changes are due to Bankia demanding more than Lim had planned in his proposal. This has resulted in more of the offer being destined to Bankia, less to Valencia and equal to Fundación and Generalitat Valenciana. The new vote will therefore not be over a proposal but over a contract that will result in the transfer of 70% of the shares.

Valencia and Amadeo Salvo still want to finalize the sale satisfactorily before the end of this month, and to do that a Fundación meeting has been set up next Thursday. The plan is to agree a sale with conditions connected to Porchinos and the final agreement with Bankia. This will serve to speed up the process and provide Lim with assurances. If successful this will allow to close the sale during August, with the alternative being a delay well in to September.

Meanwhile, the strengthening of the team has started with Rodrigo and Andre Gomes, while it is indicated that Enzo Perez might join as soon as a sale is approved. Some even claim Perez might join through the same formula as Rodrigo to allow Nuno to have his main missing piece in the team. The delay in the sale has no doubt affected the team’s preparations for the coming season, so the fans will be hoping that it wont take much longer.

Re: La Liga

Singaporean businessman, Peter Lim has reached an agreement with Spanish bank, Bankia for the takeover of Valencia CF.

The 6th of June Bankia announced it had reached an agreement with Meriton over the restructuring of Valencia’s debt. Many took this as being the final go for the Singapore based business man’s takeover. However it emerged shortly after that what the parties had actually agreed was a “term sheet”, a document that creates the basis for the further discussions leading up to the signing of a contract. This legal document also had a clause, giving Meriton exclusivity to negotiate for Valencia’s debt until August 15th. This has been the famous deadline approaching, because it would mean the term sheet would be invalid and that Bankia would be able to sell the debt to anyone, basically ending Peter Lim’s interest in the club.

Today, the 14th of August, the parties are widely reported to have reached an agreement over the remaining issue, although it is not yet officially confirmed by any of the parties. You’d think it would be over a reasonable and big issue, but no. The bank changed it’s requirements during the process, and suddenly wanted a 210 million euro guarantee for restructuring the Fundación loan, totalling a bit more than 70 million euros. Lim was willing to give those guarantees, but as an unlimited personal guarantee. Bankia wanted Lim to list 210 million worth of tangible assets to ensure them that the guarantees were liquid enough if there should arise a situation where they would have to execute on the guarantee. Lim denied this new requirement as a matter of principle as Bankia had previously accepted his personal unlimited guarantee. Why should it change now?

It was this that drew almost 6.000 Valencia fans out on the streets to protest against the bank’s handling of the sale and to show their support for Peter Lim. The images reached Singapore this morning and it is assured that Lim appreciated the effort and asked for translations of the slogans that the protesters had brought with them. After weeks of allegations from both sides, openly by the club and more hidden by the bank through certain media outlets, today proved to be the day where reason was applied. Bankia agreed to lower the requirement to 140 million, something Lim and his Meriton lawyers could live with. With that the final point was settled over the contract between Bankia and Meriton. The formal signing of the contracts is expected tomorrow morning, while it could all be official shortly after. Why is the heading here not “Peter Lim new owner of Valencia”?

Well, as we already mentioned above, the contract between Fundación and Lim had a condition related to the Porchinos court case. In a row over a bankrupt real estate company tied to Valencia’s development of a new sporting complex, the club is destined to loose and the fines incurred could reach up to 180 million euros according to Amadeo Salvo. Meriton, of course, do not want to be held responsible for previous owner’s actions, which have led the club into this vulnerable legal position. The club therefore have been working on reaching a deal with the parties involved to annul the development plan for the real estate, something that would benefit all parties more than the club being sentenced to pay money it cannot pay at all. However, while they are working on the issue, there will still be a condition in the contract that impedes it from being official. The club and Fundación though, are both very optimistic about providing sufficient legal comfort for Meriton to be able to circumvent the issue. There has been an expectation that the legal comfort for Porchinos would be provided the 15th, tomorrow.

The second little hindrance is the approval of the Protectorate for Fundacións in Comunidad Valenciana. As mentioned in previous articles, this is a formality which only goal is to verify that the Fundación board has not taken any action that is against the interest of the Fundación itself. So until these to issue are resolved, Peter Lim and Meriton will not officially be the owner of the majority share, however it is expected that he will be able to start bringing in transfers, such as Enzo Pérez after reaching an agreement with Bankia. These will then likely follow the same recipe as the one used to bring in Rodrigo and Andre Gomes; Meriton will acquire the players, the current club will keep the players sportive rights which they loan to Valencia. All in all, it now seems that the major hurdles are behind Valencia in one of the most complex deals ever seen in sports among four parties; Valencia CF, Valencia CF Fundación, Bankia and Meriton. The size of the deal will make it the second largest ever in football.

Re: La Liga

Barcelona goalkeeper, Marc Andre Ter Stegen has been ruled out for the next two to three week after suffering a lumbar injury in training several days ago and fellow newcomer, Claudio Bravo is expected to be named the starting keep for the start of the La Liga season in two weeks.

The German international keeper suffered a vertebra injury similar to that which his teammate, Brazilian winger Neymar suffered against Colombia in the 2014 World Cup, after colliding with Alex Song and has since been working with the physio’s on individual workouts before it was determined that the player needed to take two weeks to allow the injury to heal.

Due to Ter Stegen’s injury, Claudio Bravo is expected to get the starting nod over Jordi Masip for the Blaugrana’s first La Liga contest against Elche on 24th August at the Camp Nou.

Meanwhile, new centre-back, Thomas Vermaelen continues to work apart from the group as he recovers from a torn hamstring suffered in the 2014 World Cup last month.

Re: La Liga

Benfica president, Luís Filipe Vieira recently revealed that Atletico Madrid has already asked for a return on the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga history, Jan Oblak, with the La Liga champions wishing to sell the Slovenian international back to his former club after two months.

In an interview with the club’s television channel, Vieira made the intriguing claim, while also stating that Atleti wished to return Oblak and sign another of Benfica’s players.

“We never thought Oblak would come back again, but they offered him back to us. We said no. It wasn’t Atletico directly, but a representative who came with a clear offer. The deal included Oblak, money and another player.”

The Portuguese press are inclined to believe that the player in question is Argentine midfielder Nico Gaitan, who has been an Atletico Madrid transfer target with a release clause of 45 million euros.

Re: La Liga

Albert Ferrer’s Córdoba were beaten 1-0 by third division Lucena on Wednesday night but the 44-year old was quick to reiterate his calmness ahead of the La Liga campaign.

Speaking to the media after the game, Ferrer said: “We use these games to draw conclusions and test a variety of tactics. We got what we wanted to see – it’s what pre-season is for.

There were some problems with our system, that we know now we have to adjust. It’s the same as last season, we don’t get down about it and we get there in the end. I’m not worried about anything, I’m optimistic (if anything).”

Córdoba have had a very mixed run of form in pre-season. Before the disappointing defeat to Lucena, Ferrer’s side comfortably beat Moroccan side Raja Casablanca but then followed it up with a loss to Sevilla, despite Ferrer acknowledging he was pleased with the overall performance.

Córdoba’s final friendly before the start of La Liga comes against Almería, who are likely to be one of their direct relegation rivals when the season gets underway. On that particular game, Ferrer said: “Our final game against Almería will be a serious test, as they are a team who are likely going to be fighting for the same thing as us.”

Ferrer will be looking to see a sharp performance against their fellow Andalusians. Not least as the next one up after that is a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu, for the opening weekend of the Primera.

Re: La Liga

Valencia president Amadeo Salvo returned to the city after closing the deal with Peter Lim, content that the Singapore businessman will propel the club back amongst the top clubs in Spanish football, and beyond.

With a full agreement now in place between Peter Lim and all parties concerned, after Valencia president Amadeo Salvo travelled to Singapore for decisive meetings with the billionaire investor, months of arduous negotiations have now reached a successful conclusion.

Returning to Valencia on Friday, Amadeo Salvo was in buoyant mood, delighted that everything is now coming to fruition, following his tireless efforts to secure the investment the club needs to move forward, together with Peter Lim and Meriton Holdings.

“We have the financial opportunity to develop a modern club and become the world number one, as we were ten years ago. It’s a long-term project and not just about the money. They want to develop the club the way it should be, a profitable club.”

Salvo also confirmed that there is now full agreement between Meriton Holdings and Bankia, who have proven very difficult throughout the sale process.

“We’re in the final stages now. Fortunately, Meriton Holdings, Mr. Lim’s company, and Bankia, the principal creditor, have reached an agreement on the final three points of negotiations.”

Looking ahead with great enthusiasm, Salvo pointed out that the deal is the “amongst the three biggest” in the world of football, following the sales of Manchester United and Liverpool, whilst also content that the future now looks very promising.

“Valencia is a great club and Valencia is a great opportunity for Mr. Lim. We’re very happy about the future, with our new mission and the spirit of Peter Lim. I’m certain that we’ll be right up there again.”