News Archive

Transfer rumours

We were about to report that the big news over the last fortnight was that Real Madrid hadn't signed anybody, but then Barcelona woke up! Club president Joan Laporta seems to have fixed his sights only on Inter Milan though, starting by signing their Brazilian left back Maxwell after Deportivo refused to budge on the asking price for Filipe. That was just the prelude however to a massive deal which looks set to bring Ibrahimovic to the Nou Camp in exchange for - wait for it - €45 million plus Samuel Eto'o (valued at €35 million in anybody's money) plus a one year loan of Hleb! it only remains now for the players to agree terms with their respective new clubs, but if it does go through Laporta is going to have to eat his trousers after criticising Real Madrid's spending spree as obscene!

What else has happened over the last few days? Barça's "wee dabble" means that Villa and Forlán are out of the firing line, making the fans of Valencia and Atlético happy but their CFOs even more depressed, although with mavericks such as big spending Manchester City around who knows? Just when you thought you were safe... Spain's love affair with the UK carries on, with Jermain Pennant making a move from Liverpool to newly promoted Zaragoza, and Tottenham's Zokora joining Sevilla. And Xerez have got their new coach, ex Osasuna boss Cuco Ziganda moving to Andalusia to find a half empty changing room. With nothing in the piggy bank they will have to pick up the scraps where they can, but the bookies are already marking them down as favourites for a quick return to the second division. Can they defy the odds? (18.07.09)

Player (Country)	Current club	New club	Position/Comments
Ibrahimovic (SWE)	Inter Milan (ITA)	Barcelona	FW Splashed out €45 Mio plus transfer of Eto'o and loan deal for Hleb! Still pending agreement with players though.
Pennant (ENG)	Liverpool / Portsmouth	Zaragoza	MF Interesting signing for Maños! Rescinds contract at Anfield after loan at Portsmouth and joins for 3 years.
Sergio Asenjo	Valladolid	Atlético Madrid	GK Deal finally settled at €5.5 Mio plus Diego Costa. Camacho could move on loan too?
Maxwell (BZL)	Inter Milan (ITA)	Barcelona	DF Gave up waiting for Filipe, and paid €4.5 Mio for Brazilian left back. Signs for 5 years.
Zokora (IVC)	Tottenham (ENG)	Sevilla	MF Reportedly paid €9 Mio to Spurs for midfielder, who signs 4 year contract.
Ziganda	Osasuna	Xerez	MG Finally opted for ex Osasuna manager, who turned down top office job at Athletic to stay in coaching.
Morris (SAF)	Panathinaikos / Recreativo	Racing Santander	DF South African defender returns to Spain on loan deal after good season at Recre.
Iván Pullid (ARG)	Tiro Federal / Newells (ARG)	Espanyol	DF "Next Zabaleta" joins on loan with buy out option after good season on loan at Newell's Old Boys.
Lafita	Deportivo	Zaragoza	FW Return to old club hit snags after Zaragoza to pay €2 Mio buy back clause. Have until end August to do so.
Marc Torrejón	Espanyol	Racing Santander	DF Not in Pochettino's plans, so have agreed €1.5 Mio transfer to Cantabria.
Roberto	Recreativo	Atlético Madrid	GK Paid €1.25 Mio buy back clause after year at Recre, and will be understudy to Asenjo.
Valdo	Espanyol	Málaga	MF No place in squad after long injury lay-off, so agrees move on loan to South coast.
Oliveira (BZL)	Betis	Al Jazira (UAE)	FW Reported to have agreed €14 Mio fee for star striker, which will be split between Betis and Zaragoza.
Manucho (ANG)	Manchester Utd / Hull City	Valladolid	FW Reported be signing Man U forward, who was on lan at Hull. Will join on 5 year deal, and presentation due for next week.
Xabi Castillo	Real Sociedad	Athletic Bilbao	DF Young left back returns to old club, and signs on four year deal. Joins Díaz de Cerio.
Fabricio	Deportivo	Valladolid	GK Moves on after falling out with club over contractual terms. Joins for 2 years to replace Asenjo.
De Marcos	Alavés	Athletic Bilbao	FW Have signed promising young player on four year deal after Alavés went down.
Alberto Bueno	Real Madrid B	Valladolid	FW Paid €3 Mio to Castilla for young striker, who signs on 5 year deal. Madrid have buy back option for first two seasons.
Aranda	Numancia	Osasuna	FW Have signed much travelled striker for €1.2 Mio. Kike Sola goes other way on loan.
Rufete	Espanyol	Hércules	MF Veteran midfielder out of contract and moves to Alicante on 2 year deal.
Emilio N'Sue	Mallorca / Castellón	Real Sociedad	FW Spanish youth international forward moves on loan again, this time to San Sebastian.
Botía	Barcelona B	Sporting Gijón	DF Youth international defender moves on one year loan to gain experience.
Nivaldo (BZL)	Umm-Salal (QTR)	Valladolid	DF Left sided defender joins after spells with Os Belenenses and Saint Etienne before moving to Qatar.
Guaita	Valencia	Recreativo	GK Played several games for first team last season due to injuries, but has to move on loan this year. Have also signed keeper Bernardo from Alavés.
Víctor	Valladolid	Cartagena	FW Experienced striker out of contract and has to move on. Vivar Dorado also goes, signing for Albacete.
Lafuente	Athletic / Sporting	Numancia	GK Veteran keeper has to move on again after loan period, and signs 2 year contract with Soria based club.
Tiko	Athletic / Eibar	retiring	MF Has decided to retire early due to serious back problems, although could return if cure found.
Goitom (SWE)	Murcia / Valladolid	Almería	FW Have signed replacement for Negredo for €2.2 Mio, although Udinese have right of refusal and could still poach him away.
Arthuro / Saulo (BZL)	Terek Grozny / Os Belenenses	Celta	FW Signing a new crop of forwards after struggling to avoid relegation last season.
Movilla	Murcia	Rayo Vallecano	MF Ex málaga, Atlético and Zaragoza veteran out of contract, and signs for Rayo. Albiol's brother goes the other way.
Nano	Racing Ferrol	Numancia	MF Remember him? Ex Barça B, Atlético Madrid, Getafe etc. Once rated as another Fernando Torres, now has another chance to make his name.
Descarga	Legia Warsaw (POL)	Real Unión	DF Ex Levante captain returns to Spain to help old club consolidate in second division.