In times of crisis, investment plummets. This is evidenced by the behavior of the clubs in the winter market that has just closed. In LaLiga almost half of operations have been registered and 84.34% less spending than a year ago. There is no money. Neither to buy nor for other teams to sign the players they want to start. And therein lies the problem, with LaLiga's vigilance on the account of the clubs, they must comply with the popular saying: “Let out before entering.” Y without sales there can be no signings.
LaLiga registers the lowest figures in the last decade in the winter market, just before the economic boom of the clubs due to the centralized sale of TV rights. The expense was 20.45 million euros, € 110.15 million less than a year ago. It is the lowest investment in the month of January since the 2012-13 campaign (€ 13.7M). Gone are the galactic signings at this point in the season for 160 million euros as Barcelona disbursed for Coutinho in 2018. This year the most expensive purchase was that of Carlos Fernández, for which Real Sociedad has paid 10 million (plus two possible in variables), to Sevilla. A transfer sixteen times lower than that of Coutinho. They are the effects of COVID-19. Only five other teams have dared to take out their wallets to be reinforced in this transfer window: Seville (Papu Gómez, € 6M), Villarreal (Capoue, 2), Getafe (1.25 for the loan of Kubo), Athletic (Moussa Dembélé, 1) and Celtic (Augusto Solari, 0.2). The rest of the 32 registrations in this market have been at zero cost.
Those that have strengthened the most have been the clubs that have been scared in the first round, seeing themselves very close to the relegation places. As is the case with Valencia (it has incorporated Ferro, Cutrone, Piccini and Oliva), Getafe (Kubo, Aleñá and Chakla) and Celta (Ferreyra, Solari and Aaron Martín). On the other hand, four teams have not been reinforced: Real Madrid, Barcelona, Levante and Athletic.
As for the departures section, the figures are also negative. Only 21.25 million euros have been entered€ 68.65M less than a year ago and the lowest figure since the 2011-12 campaign (€ 14.2M). The club that has left the most players has been Cádiz (Adekanye, Sergio González, Nano Mesa, Álvaro Giménez and Bodigoer). They are followed by Getafe (Chichizola, Diaby, Palaversa and Mollejo), Elche (Koné, Miño, Lucumí and Rodríguez), Atlético (Manu Sánchez, Saponjic and Diego Costa) and Eibar (Damian Kadzior, José Antonio Martínez and Olabe). Real Madrid had to say goodbye to Jovic, who is going to Eintracht, and Odegaard, to Arsenal. The Norwegian asked to leave after having a few minutes in the white club. Another who has also wanted to leave but has not had interesting offers to leave Concha Espina has been Isco. Another change that did not come true was that of Vitolo. Villarreal was interested in him, but there was no agreement to leave Atlético.
Total, 71 operations have been carried out in the LaLiga transfer market. Much less than last year, which registered 102. We will have to wait to see the frantic market closings and big names again. It will not be, at least, until the fans fill the stadium stands again and the clubs recover a part of their income and can breathe economically.
The movements of the last day
Ferreyra reinforces the attack of the Celtic until June. The forward arrives free after terminating his contract with Benfica. Okay went on loan to West Brom of the Premier until the end of the season.
Wave arrive at Valladolid on loan and until the end of the season. The defender comes from Celta, where he has played the last three seasons, although he belongs to Boca Juniors.
The Valencia reached an agreement with the Italian Cagliari to incorporate Christian Oliva. The Uruguayan arrives on loan and the team that has a non-mandatory purchase option. At Levante Koke Vegas left the granota goal to go on loan to Mallorca.
Yassin Fekir, the brother of Nabil Fekir, who currently played in the Betis Deportivo, happens to have a record of the first team. With the Verdiblanco subsidiary he has played everything, scoring two goals.
Quina landed on Pomegranate on loan from Watford. The midfielder is the European Under-17 and Under-19 champion with Portugal. Azeez also left, bound for Cartagena. In return, Adrián Marín arrived at the last minute and on the horn to Los Cármenes, from Alavés.
Idrissi leaves on loan to Ajax until the end of the season and on loan. The Moroccan winger has not found continuity in Sevilla and returns to a league he already knows.
Barça and Nice agreed to the transfer of Todibo until the end of the season. The defender was currently at Benfica (also on loan). The French team takes over the card.
The Elche It was the team that moved the most on the last market day. In the last minutes came Gazzaniga, on loan from Tottenham and gave the low to Lucumí, Diego Rodriguez, Sanchez Minho Y Koné.
Cordova change of scene. The Athletic midfielder will play on loan at the Alaves until the end of the season. He goes out in search of opportunities (he has only played three games).
Osasuna and Girona signed an agreement for the incorporation of Ramalho to the Pamplona team. The central, who has experience in Primera, arrives on loan (with purchase option).