Primera's album reopens with the same promotion cards

In the First Division album that Espanyol reopens this Monday it is worth entry to the collector with hooking the same stickers from last season, the ones from the promotion in its fleeting passage through Second. Vicente Moreno's team begins its 2021-22 preseason without even a single signing and also without exits of first team players. And, yes, with a capital renovation, that of Javi Puado, about to be polished. An anomalous paralysis that has not been dislodged in the five weeks of vacation but that must do so in the six remaining until the start of LaLiga, which will return with the public.

To the 'overbooking' in the template, at least in the relationship between footballers on the payroll and available professional files, responds to the fact that no one will finish the contract on June 30, that they were executed automatic purchase and renewal clauses –Diego López by games played, Nany Dimata, Miguelón Llambrich and Álvaro Vadillo in the event of promotion – and even, also because of signed commitments, Joan Garcia must acquire a priori category of first team. Not like this Ricard Pujol, who on Sunday at the last minute announced his departure. Most likely, however, is that Pujol and some more homegrown players, What Pol Lozano and Víctor Gómez (who returns from his loan in the Mirandés with Moha ezzarfani), come out on loan to have minutes, although for this their destination clubs must pay all or part of their chips.

The lack of reinforcements so far – in addition to being due to the pandemic that is devastating the market or the European Championship – is closely related to this number of footballers, up to 27, whose sum exceeds the salary limit by between three and four million approved by LaLiga for the return to Primera. That is not much more thanks to the 37.8 million capital increase subscribed by Chen Yansheng on June 21. In some cases, like Raúl de Tomás, Leandro Cabrera or Adrián Embarba, Espanyol will have to compensate for the drastic drop in salary that they accepted to compete in Second; but, in return, they will continue except surprise as essential pieces of the squad.

Without a positive balance, Espanyol cannot in principle undertake any of its operations in portfolio, such as the priority of a midfielder, the probable of a central and the desired of a forward and even a left back, depending on how the market evolves. Or yes, in case you choose to take a chance as happened last year with Keidi Bare, who could only be signed up three days after the summer window closed.

In the absence of new faces, the long-awaited renewal of Puado – who, like Óscar Gil, will not join the team practically until LaLiga is about to start – and the return of Miguelón after five months injured represent the main novelties at the start of the preseason, together with the presence of Espanyol B players with enormous projection such as Omar El Halali or Gregorio Gracia 'Gori' that already last season they attended the stay in Marbella.

On the Costa del Sol the parrots will repeat this course from July 19 to 30, but first they will spend a few days in the Sports City, with group trainings that will begin this Tuesday, after what this Monday the usual physical and medical tests will take place of each first day of ‘school’, provided that the PCRs on Sunday have yielded favorable results. And, as good students, Espanyol's illusion on this occasion exceeds that of recent times, after a horrible season in First Division and another in Second Division purgatory that ended with a comfortable promotion and a champion title ‘in extremis’.

The adventure that now begins is the reality of the blue and white club, its old normality. The one you have experienced in 85 of the 90 seasons in which the League championship has existed. The one that has made him the fifth team with the most games played in the top flight. Under the orders of Vicente Moreno, this Espanyol has returned with the obligation to stay.