If it were a sprint race, and not a long-distance race as it really is, Espanyol would have been losing positions alarmingly in recent years, to the point of currently registering a historical record. Among all first signings of each season, Sergi Gómez's is going to become, except for a debacle, the latest in the entire Cornellà-El Prat era. Except, of course, a last summer marked by the pandemic in which LaLiga 2019-20 did not end until July 19, a month and three weeks later than this year.
TO July 27 has not yet signed, although unless a surprise will do so, the first reinforcement of Espanyol 2021-22, which will be the Catalan central from Sevilla and former player also of Celta. Curiously, from Balaídos had come what until now was considered the most lazy incorporation, that of Borja Iglesias in 2018, which it was not made official until July 9, becoming by ten million the highest reinforcement in history perica. And it seemed very late. That week, the first days of July, has been a classic for the first signings of Espanyol.
A July 8, 2010 landed at the RCDE Stadium, first on loan from Naples to later be acquired as property, the Buenos Aires native Jesus Dátolo. Two days before, the July 6, but 2019, the first incorporation had been that of Bernardo Espinosa from Girona, also on loan. And the July 3, 2015 entry Hernán Pérez, the Paraguayan with the letter of freedom after ending the contract with Villarreal.
Borja Iglesias will run out of 'record'.
DAILY AS
But most of the first signings of the Cornellà era were closed when the preseason had not yet started. Not even the market had officially opened. It is the case of Juan Albín and Adrián Luna, from Getafe and Defensor respectively, signed on June 23, 2011. Or that of Diego Colotto, the June 22, 2012, after being released from Deportivo. That same day, but in 2016, arrived Roberto Jimenez, for whom Espanyol paid three million to Olympiacos.
Of the June 17, 2016 dates the signing, in return format from Qatari Al-Rayyan, of Sergio garcia. And from June 4, 2009, the first reinforcement of the Cornellà era, curiously the inseparable friend and companion of the Bon Pastor forward, nothing less than Joan Verdú, from Deportivo.
Sergio García was announced on June 17 but was not introduced until July 10.
GORKA LEIZA (DAILY AS)
And Espanyol sparked what is not in the writings in 2014, when the May 22nd already communicated the landing of Anaitz Arbilla from Rayo Vallecano, although for 'early morning' in terms of signings, that of 2013. On February 5 came the announcement of the incorporation of Manu Lanzarote for the next season.
And in 2020? That year, which annulled any registration, due to a pandemic that paralyzed LaLiga for three months and forced it to end in the middle of July, Espanyol made its first signing official on August 19, with greater margin to start the championship than currently exists. Fran Merida, who had been freed from Osasuna, was the chosen one. Now Sergi Gómez will succeed him.