Seville and Espanyol, two galaxies 600 million apart

Glasgow. May 2007. Those unfortunate penalties for Espanyol, like those of Leverkusen, which deprived him of lifting a European title for the second time. Another ecstasy for Sevilla. Two clubs that joined paths but that, almost 15 years later, live in different galaxies: six titles and six times among the first four for the Andalusians; a seventh place and a relegation for the Catalans. On Sunday the second will be measured against the 13th of the championship.

In these 15 years, these sporting differences are also reflected in the economy and in the investment of the squads. Espanyol and Sevilla live with a difference of 600 million euros. The Andalusian team has sold for 799 million and has allocated 778 to reinforce itself. His project has been based on getting performance out of players, not losing money on operations in order to maintain the demand and the level. The wheel has not stopped turning for a club that does not want to fall out of the Champions League.

For its part, Espanyol has invested 181 million in purchases and has sold for 219.5reflecting the pressing need for revenue especially in the period before Chen Yansheng’s purchase of the club, when debt threatened shareholders with Bankruptcy Law. If the difference between what is sold and what is spent by Sevilla is 3%, that of the blue and white club amounts to 19%.

The 2019-20 season, when Espanyol played European competition, saw the highest spending for both teams. Sevilla invested 178 million, according to Transfermarkt data, in reinforcing that exercise, an amount that represents the same amount that Espanyol spent in the last 15 years. And that the parakeet team invested 61.5 million for the signings of Raúl de Tomás, Matías Vargas, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Oier Olazábal and Adrián Embarba, the biggest waste of the Chen era compensating for the sales of Aarón Martín, Mario Hermoso and Borja Iglesias, who amounted to 46.5.

It is curious because the most expensive signing from Sevilla has been Jules Koundé, for whom 25 million were paid to Girondins, while Espanyol’s is RdT, with 22.5 to Benfica. An exception. Sevilla has made 28 signings for at least ten million and has sold 27 footballers for those ten kilos or more. Espanyol, on the other hand, has signed five players for more than that amount and has sold them. Two galaxies to be measured on Sunday.