Around La Liga 8.16

Valencian Community:
Valencia: after threatening to report Malaga for lack of payment on the sale of Isco, the deal has been consummated and have received the 8 million euros. Juan Bernat, one of the pearls of the youth system, has been renewed until 2015 to avoid another Isco situation.

Villarreal: Malaga have confirmed that the 19 million euros they paid for Santi Cazorla have been transferred. There was speculation that either Villarreal or Valencia would report Malaga for lack of payment.

Levante: the economic crisis has hit Levante hard over the past year. Season ticket sales are down by almost 10% from 9,200. In comparison, neighbors Valencia have seen a 7% loss in the same span.

Andalusia: 
Real Betis: Achile Emaná has signed a four year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal for an undisclosed sum.

Sevilla: Rodrigo Rios, Rodri, has signed for FC Barcelona for 1.5 million euros and will join La Masia on a four year contract. He has a buy-back clause of 10 million euros and Sevilla have first rights to rebuy.

Malaga: could Wesley Sneijder join Malaga instead of clubs in England? Gazzetta.it reported it a few days ago. He fits the sort of player that Malaga have gone for recently.

Granada: 29 year old central-midfielder Jorge Ribeiro, brother of ex-Atléti midfielder and current Sporting Lisbon midfielder Maniche, joins Los Cármenes.

Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: it is looking more than likely that club will sell Diego Forlán to Inter Milan and use that money to buy Pablo Daniel Osvaldo from Espanyol but only if they have already signed Radamel Falcao García from FC Porto? Something does not add up here.

Real Madrid: Neymar has said that it would be fine to sign for either Real Madrid or Barcelona. Finally he´s learned. Get the two clubs in a bidding war and sign for the winner.

Getafe: South African defender Tsepo Masilela, who was set to join Leicester City on-loan from Maccabi Haifa in Israel, has instead signed with Getafe.

Rayo Vallecano: Arsenal defender Pedro Botelho has gone out on a season long loan move to Rayo. Rayo President Martín-Presa has dispelled rumors that José Ramón Sandoval, four players and his Sporting Director would not be fired for refusal to take a 70% drop in pay.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: 24 year old defender Javi Ponces has decided to quit football. ¨The more you know about football the more you realise it is all about money, that it is rotten and this takes away your enthusiasm. What point is there is earning 800 or 1000 euros if you know that you are obtaining it through the suffering of many people."

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: in a sell-first, then buy transfer strategy, the Cantabrians under Hector Cuper are looking at a few players. Reggina forward Cristian Stuani who spent last year on-loan at Levante and former Racing midfielder Antonio Tomas.


Pais Vasco: 
Athletic Bilbao: thinking that a Spanish holiday in Bilbao looking for a top-quality forward would come on the cheap, Harry Redknapp have looked at Fernando Llorente. Athletic however do not need to sell, they are in solid financial footing and if Real Madrid couldn´t prise him away from San Mamés, Spurs are going to? Even if they could reach his valuation and any club that Daniel Levy runs is always going to try to get players on the cheap.

Real Sociedad: Arsenal forward Carlos Vela has signed with La Real for one-year on-loan as the Mexican forward struggles to get his career back on track.

Navarra:
Osasuna:  Raúl García of Atlético Madrid will play, on-loan at Osasuna this year.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza:  Fernando Meira leaves Zenit for Real Zaragoza. Mexican forward Pablo Barrera is also an option from West Ham.

Catalunya:
Barcelona:  Cesc Fabregas finally signs with Barcelona. Arsenal apparently have first rights to buy him back if Barcelona grow tired of him?

Espanyol: Osvaldo to Rooma? Osvaldo to Atléti? Who cares. With Haedo Valdes gone to Russia, who do we buy if Osvaldo leaves who is of equal quality? Poor decisions continue at my beloved club.

Mallorca:  
Real Mallorca: Canadian midfielder Jonathan de Guzman looks headed for Villarreal.

Around La Liga: 7.22

Valencian Community:
Valencia:the club have stated publicly that they count on Juan Mata. The player expects to be at Valencia or so he says. Then why did the club omit him from a local advertising campaign to boost sales?

Villarreal: Capdevila heads over to Benfica for two years. Unwanted Jozy Altidore moves to AZ Alkmaar. Cazorla may yet be leaving, but the renewal is constant at El Madrigal: Camuñas comes from Osasuna and Cristian Zapata from Udinese? The best run club in Spain continues to show others how to run a football club.

Levante: the inevitable, annual purge continues: forward Felipe Caicedo, the Ecuadorian sensation who helped Valencia´s other club survive in his first year at the Estadi Ciutat, but if the club exercises a 1 million euro option to buy from his former employers Manchester City and then sells for 10 times that amount to Lokomotiv in Russia, then how do you say no to that?

Andalusia: 
Real Betis: central defender Antonio Amaya, who grew up in the Rayo Vallecano system and spent the last two seasons under contract at Wigan in England but failed to make even a single league appearance, has joined Real Betis in a three year contract after helping his former club Rayo Vallecano on-loan last year in their return to La Liga. Maybe he´ll even get paid this year.

Sevilla: after the disappointment of seeing Diego Capel leave the Sanchez-Pizjuan we were wondering if Marcelino García Toral and his sporting director Monchi would deal another player in, and it looks like 20 year old striker Hiroshi Ibusuki who played at Sabadell on-loan from Girona will fit nicely. He´s a tall-elegant striker and factors in as an emerging international. He´s tall and can handle the aerial game, but prefers the ball at his feet. The club are still in the hunt for Giovanni Dos Santos, but are looking at Koran midfielder Chu-Young Park from Monaco if that deal falls through.

Malaga: 18 million euros for Santi Cazorla from Villarreal? The way that Fernando Roig does business, it is always in their best interest to sell a player, especially when the price is inflated. Santi is certainly a great player and a champion nonetheless, but for 18 million euros you could buy a higher quality winger. I think this deal gets done.

Granada: Odion Jude Ighalo, the hero of last year´s promotion at Granada CF, will continue to wear the red and white kit of Granada after the Andalusían club came to an agreement with his Italian owners Udinese Calcio to remain another year at the Alhambra. Great to have a partner in Serie A who will let their players train and practice their technical skills in the Spanish league and then leave for Serie A when ready. Is there any wonder that Udinese have created something special at the Stadio Friuli?

Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: we can talk about players, that Kun Aguero may or may not be leaving for Manchester City or Tiago signing again at Atléti, but I think the greatest Atéti story of the week if not ever is the prospect of them being sponsored by internet dating/whoring site Ashley Madison. I think it´s a good thing. No one´s going to mock them, are we?

Real Madrid: the clouds are shifting, the Eye of Mordor is receding, and the skies over Los Angeles, well they continue to be covered in a veritable soup of noxious fumes, but at least Real Madrid are leaving. Maybe this site can actually breathe a little over the din of giddy madridismo. Other than that, the expected has come true, Zinedine Zidane is mainly Florentino Perez´s man-servant, as Jose Mourinho becomes head of Sporting Endeavors at Real Madrid. 

Getafe: Real Madrid´s answer to the Dalai-Lama, Pedro León, will likely make a move to Getafe Dubai Club, formerly known as the place where all great Real Madrid Castilla players go before getting a big contract elsewhere.

Rayo Vallecano: are Rayo planning a loan-move for Liverpool´s Spanish midfielder Dani Pacheco? Unless the Reds are going to pay his wages, how does that make sense for a club at the mercy of the Ley Concursal? Spainish football. Gotta love it.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: forward David Barrál has extended his contract at El Molinón until June of 2015 with an optional year after that.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: the club have regained their ability to sign players on the transfer market after a Cantabrian judge lifted the ban that had been in place. Matías Gimenez of Boca Juniors is a likely target then.


Pais Vasco: 
Athletic Bilbao: the club have continued their new project under new President Josu Urrutia and new coach Marcelo Bielsa with a new philosophy, less direct and more ball-control, with high-energy defensive pressure. The long and sometimes incomprehensible pressers continue for El Loco. I can hardly wait for the season to start.  

Real Sociedad: La Real are in no rush to sell Griezmann to Atletico Madrid, but it looks about done that Raúl Tamudo, who was out a mere two months ago from Anoeta, may return.

Navarra:
Osasuna: te club have sold Nacho Monreal for 6 million euros to Málaga and now Javier Camuñas to Villarreal for 2.3 million euros. Celta Vigo´s Roberto Lago and Villarreal´s Jose Catalá were options at left-back at first, but the more likely option is for Fran Merida of Atlético Madrid or Salzburg´s attacking winger Johan Vonlanthen.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: Mexican  coach Javier Aguirre was looking at bringing in countryman Pablo Barrera from West Ham´s but he looks to be going to Spartak of Moscow. Bruno Gama from Rio Ave of Portugal is the next signing, the fifth if you consider they brought in youth-team players from FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, for a club in bankruptcy.  

Catalunya:
Barcelona: after my self-imposed football holiday, I returned to find that Alexis Sanchez still hadn´t signed for the blaugrana. Well, now they have and Bojan, who was waiting for that to happen before accepting AS Roma´s bid officially, has gone. So what are we still waiting on? The rumor that would not go away is still on  the clock after years and years of mischief making. Bring on Cesc and let me enjoy the rest of my Summer holidays. Please

Espanyol: there´s a great piece on Dani Osvaldo in the Mundo Vomitivo today. Some highlights? We find out he´s an intellectual, a gourmand, and a musicologist to boot. He loves classical literature, poetry, art, and fashion. Guess I found my new bromance.  

Mallorca:  
Real Mallorca: Real Betis central defender Chicho has signed for the mayorquinos.

Sponsorship Deals La Liga

A quick bit of information for those inquiring minds. With clubs rolling out the kit designs for La Liga 2011-2012, there was some debate as to what the new sponsors were going to be. According to Marca, these are the clubs and their sponsors.

Athletic: Petronor; a Basque owned petroleum manufacturer.
Atlético: none confirmed; possible Ashley Madison, the online dating service.
Barcelona: Qatar Foundation; a Qatari-based Educational non-profit
Betis: none confirmed
Espanyol: none confirmed
Getafe: Burger King; Amerian fast-food outlet
Granada: none confirmed
Málaga: UNESCO; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Mallorca: Bet-at-home.com; German-based online betting company
Osasuna: none confirmed
Racing de Santander: Chorizos Palacios; La Rioja-based sausage manufacturer
Rayo: none confirmed
Real Madrid: Bwin; Gibraltar-based on-line betting company
Real Sociedad: Gipuzkoa; regional organization of Gipuzkoa, Spain.
Sevilla: none confirmed
Sporting: Gijón Asturias; city of Gijon Asturias
Valencia: none confirmed
Villarreal: none confirmed
Zaragoza: Proniño, a non-profit arm of the telecommunications giant.

There has been some movement since the article in Marca was published, but nothing really confirmed. I think some will again be highlighted by their local councils or city governments and some might find a company willing to sponsor the shirt deal but most likely it will come from within Spain. The best sponsorship deal I think is Athletic´s. I know they are well known through much of their existence to not have had sponsors, but this is a win on many counts. It´s a multinational organisation with Basque roots. The worst has got to be Burger King with Getafe. I seriously wonder if they will continue now that their new Dubai owners have come. Will they and the Malaga owners circumvent new UEFA regulations by signing new stadium deals? I think my favorite deal is the one that Racing Santander got. Chorizos Palacios, a Spanish sausage manufacturer from La Rioja? Cue the sausage jokes, please.

Barcelona Bulletins 6.27

Sport.es
Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas: Cesc is Here: On Vacation: He arrived yesterday in Barcelona and he does not expect to return to London. Cesc Fabregas arrived yesterday evening to spend part of his vacation with family and with the objective to sign with Barca. 35 million: Arsenal has put a price on him and it looks good to Wenger. Thiago Alcántara: ¨I don´t want to leave. I want to triumph with Barca.¨ The club hopeful that the club does not include him in any operation. Alexis: Manchester City offer 43 million euros. The English club pressure Udinese to sell them the forward.
Reaction: If Barcelona gets Cesc, loses Aléxis Sanchez and promotes two of their canteranos like Thiago and Jeffren instead, isn´t that a step forward, even in this media-driven transfer window? I think so. I still like Giuseppe Rossi more than Sanchez.

ElMundoDeportivo.es
Barcelona: Cesc Fabregas: Cesc arrives to stay: Cesc arrived yesterday in Barcelona to wait for an accord between Barca and Arsenal. Key Week: the supporters have backed Thiago after the U-21 Euros, they´ve have rejected Aléxis, and Bojan should ratify his exit.

Reaction: new format here. I decided to split the posts in the Summer. So you´ll get two for the price of one on Mondays. What do I think? I don´t see the need to bring in Sanchez, a starter for Udinese and a diva to a certain extent despite what people say that he´s like off the pitch, on the pitch he´s the sort of player that usually does not do well in a possession game that involves everyone. He´d do well in a more direct system. I like Rossi, but he replicates some of what Cesc does when he plays off the striker and clogs the middle. If you ask me, they should concentrate on Juan Mata who is already familiar playing in the system and is comfortable linking with Villa, Iniesta and Xavi.

Madrid Messages 6.27

As.com
Real Madrid: Benzema: ¨I Have Never Seen Myself away from Madrid¨: `I will return to form. I work daily, I swim and I bike. Neymar and Kún? The only forward I fear is Ronaldo.´ Varane: passes his physical and will sign at the Bernabéu. Altintop: will have his back operated on today in Germany. Neymar: Tostao: ¨He will be what Messi is today.¨ Atlético Madrid: Gil Marin: ¨The only responsible one for the matter has been and is me.¨ U-21´s: Brasil intends to take Thiago Alcántara. Del Bosque will shield him by calling him up for Spain.
Reaction:  I´ll defend Benzema as I have defended him all along. He is the best French forward of his generation. Since coming to Spain he has not found the right coach nor system to take advantage of his skills. Neymar is not ready. Who knows if he will ever be ready for the European game. El Kún is a great player, but limited in what he brings to an attack. Not the sort of player that Mourinho likes usually. They don´t need another galáctico up front. They have been boosting their squad and putting two players at every position to compete in all competitions.

Marca.com
Real Madrid: Mourinho: Mourinho will revolutionise Madrid: Feet First: He has dedicated this last month to better organise the internal structure of the club. He would like football to recoup its pre-imminent  place in the day to day culture of the club. ¨Everyone here should have it clear that their job is to insure that the first team wins on Saturday.¨Atlético Madrid: A new more professional Atlético is born; a reshuffle of the administrative model. U-21´s: Milla: Mata and Martínez were infectious.
Reaction: Sorry, but now Mourinho considers himself the chief administrator at Real Madrid? I´d like to see what sort of upper management qualifications he has? He dropped out of business school after one day and taught himself enough to qualify for a diploma as a p.e. teacher? Are we counting the honorary degree in ¨human motricity¨ he received from the University of Lisbon in 2009? Alright, I admit he´s one of a handful of great coaches today, but what does he know of managing a club, especially a club with the cache of Real Madrid? Now he´s Peter Kenyon or Joan Laporta? I´m afraid that giving him complete control of the club from top to bottom sounds like a recipe for disaster. Just my opinion. Don´t say I didn´t warn you madridistas. As for Atléti changing their stripes and Cerezo removing himself from foot-balling discussions, I´ll believe it when I see it.

Morning Papers 6.21

As.com
Real Madrid: Neymar: Santos Now has Madrid´s Offer: Luis Álvaro de Oliveira, the club´s President:¨After the Copa Libertadores, if anyone wants to talk with Neymar, they can do it then.¨ Cristiano: ¨We´ll take Barca off their perch this year¨ Barcelona: Barca offer 27 million plus a player for Alexis. President Pozzo says though, that he´s worth 50. League: The LFP wants the club´s books opened in execution of the financial fairplay rules that UEFA are implementing in 2014.
Reaction: One point at a time. Barcelona+Udinese. It´s a negotiation. They´ll settle. Alexis wants Barcelona. Pozzo wants his value. Neymar may well become a great player, the next Messi if that´s what he´s being billed as, but right now (to me) he´s no better than Robinho was coming out of Santos in 2005. `Binho was the next Pele, remember? He´ll have a lot to learn and, much like Canales, he´s far from being the sort of player that Mourinho likes. He already has one flashy player who rarely tracks back. As for what Cristiano said, it´ll take more than Nuri Sahin and Fabio Coentrao to knock Barcelona off their perch. They´re getting better too.

Marca.com

League: Bankruptcy: Football Crumbles: 21 clubs have attached themselves to the Ley Concursal. A strike, is a real threat. Real Madrid: Adidas also wants Kun Aguero at Madrid. The President of Santos:¨After the Copa Libertadores, if anyone wants to talk with Neymar, they can do it then.¨Atletico Madrid: Manzano insists that Negredo is his preferred number 9.
Reaction: Backwards this time. Three reasons for Manzano: Negredo might be your ¨9¨, but the boy wants to stay in Sevilla, he´s too expensive or at least Del Nido will value him that way, a quite frankly the third choice Gregorio. If you were Luis Enrique or Joaquin Caparros (and from what I´ve heard Caparros had the job for an hour or so until he backed down) then you might have had some sway. It doesn´t surprise me that Adidas wants Kun at Real Madrid. It´s not a secret that agents and shoe companies drive the market. Another thing that doesn´t surprise me is that football in Spain is in a financial crisis. What surprises me is that Marca is finally covering it like this with a headline.

Morning Papers in Madrid 6.15

Marca.com
Real Madrid: 30 Mil for Kaka: The player: "I'm not going, I'm not going." A huge offer from Inter for the Brasilian. Leonardo has asked for him specifically. Moratti wants to deal an effective blow to Milan. There have already been contacts between clubs. Real Madrid are pushing for a minimum of 40 million euros. Atletico Madrid: Manzano counts on Forlan for his new project. He has asked the club to let him continue. Granada and Elche: adding them up and its 57 years since they were in the first division. Barcelona: AC Milan's defender Thiago Silva reveal that they have been negotiations with Barcelona.

Reaction: Right now any money for an injured commodity is better than paying him to sit. Cut the losses. He came two years too late. He'll never be the player he was. Let him return to the slower pace of Italy where it suits him.

As.com
Real Madrid: Neymar Tangle: "With Madrid I have nothing signed." In Italy they have the case practically sealed and signed for five years. Bronzetti (his agent) called it closed at first then cleared himself. Santos and the player deny it and Real Madrid aren't talking. Atletico Madrid: Nilmar and Guiza as alternatives to Osvaldo. Atletico like the Brasilian but the Spaniard is more attainable.

Reaction: the more I think about it, the more I'm taken back to the signing of Robinho out of Real Madrid six years ago. Similar players, flashy and with mad-skills, but slow to fit into the team structure and the refereeing of European Football. Plus, other than the fact that they'd like to hide young players and keep them from the Champions League rivals, I see no use for him.

Around La Liga 06.14

Valencian Community:
Valencia: French defender Adil Rami who played at Lille for the last few years has signed with los che for around 6-10 million euros. With Llorente paying it's probably more 6 than 10.

Villarreal: the club have stated that no offers have come in from FC Barcelona asking for Giuseppe Rossi. It's probably on hold as an option if the Cesc Fabregas deal falls through. Santi Cazorla and now Borja Valero are also being shopped. Valero is now one of Gregorio Manzano's first "I wannas" now that he "runs" Atletico Madrid. That said, La Repubblica in Italy is reporting that if Rossi goes, that the club have contacted Fiorentina for the services of Alberto Gilardino. Marcos Senna could have something to do with the transfer.

Levante: Jefferson Montero, who is owned by Villarreal but played this past year on-loan at Levante, has said in an interview that it would not be an unpleasant option to continue at Orriols.

Andalusia: 
Real Betis: Getafe defender Mario Alvarez has signed on a free transfer for the next two years. It shores up a defense for a club that does lack for quality up front.

Sevilla: after succeeding at Racing and becoming one of the jewels of the Gold Cup for Mexico, Gio Dos Santos has become one of the options on Marcelino and President Jose Maria Del Nido's table. "We are not going to spend seven or eight million euros on anyone", added Del Nido, "it also depends on Kanoute." 

Malaga: With the signings of Valencia's Joaquin, Nacho Monreal of Osasuna and Lyon's Jérémy Toulalan imminent, reports are also flooding into different sources that the club is trying to bring a "bomba" or massive signing in. Speculation is ripe that it is on the level of a Tevez, Cazorla or Pastore but could it be Ribery from Bayern Munich? I guess you have to take the twitterati with a grain of salt but it does seem their ambition is picking up.


Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: I love Pablo Aimar. He is one of my favorite players of the last 10 years. He was Messi before Messi essentially but his skill is more tranquil, lucid and deliberate. He is a great passer in the tradition of great player to wear el diez or number 10 for Argentina. I just don't think he fits with Atleti or with Manzano. Sorry. Stay in Benfica Pablo. Please.

Real Madrid: Neymar or Aguero? For 45 million euros which is around what both agents are asking for, I take Aguero in a heartbeat. Neymar is flash and promise, but El Kun is already a champion; and he's a better goal-poacher than any of the guys they already have at the 9. Yes, he's better than Pipita.

Getafe:Getafe sold Dani Parejo to Valencia, but in return they have received goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya from los che to cover for injured keeper Oscar Ustari who tore knee ligaments with Argentina in preparation for the Copa America.

Rayo Vallecano: Barcelona B player Jonathan Soriano has denied any link to either Luis Enrique's AS Roma squad or to Rayo Vallecano. Chances of signing the much needed player a "practically nil" according to the Rayo Herald.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon:  Sporting have apparently inquired about Barcelona defender Marc Bartra in an apparent approach to reopen and facilitate the signing of left-back Jose Angel. Barcelona have declined the offer.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander:  So let me get this straight, according to Bloomberg, Ali Syed says he has paid about 2.5 million euros and 1.4 million euros of the club’s tax debt to the regional government, but that he hasn't paid player wages owed because after buying Racing from Jacobo Montalvo's stock portfolio, the former investor failed to resolve what he called "a family dispute that was “hidden” from him until the night before his acquisition." What a mess, and all this on today, the 98th anniversary of their founding.


Pais Vasco: 
Athletic Bilbao: Josu Urrutia is a name you will be hearing a lot about in the next few weeks. He is a former Athletic player and plans to run against current President Fernando Garcia-Macua. He wants to more ambition from Athletic and his campaign slogan is “commitment, experience, capability and values for an Athletic with ambition.” While outside sources have speculated wildly that names like Rjkaard, Van Gaal or Bielsa might be taking over at San Mames, Urrutia made his intentions clear by naming ex-player and former coach Ernesto Valverde as his candidate. Valverde has a spotty record but is as beloved by the supporters as current coach Joaquin Caparros is not. Does Garcia-Macua continue on with the status quo or does the Andalusian get the axe?

Real Sociedad: as discussed above with Levante, Jefferson Montero may be seen as a likely transfer for La Real, especially if rumors persist that Barcelona will make an offer for French sensation Antoine Griezmann.

Navarra:
Osasuna: while Tenerife forward Nino was in the sites at Deportivo, Osasuna have apparently pipped them for his services.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: Real Zaragoza have joined 20 other clubs in La Liga (clubs like Real Betis, Albacete, Cádiz, Granada, Poli Ejido, Mallorca, Recreativo, Xerez and Córdoba) in the Ley Concursal, the Spanish insolvency law, and have administrators in place to advise them.

Catalunya:
Barcelona: the one player (Cesc Fabregas) who could not be tied down to an FC Barcelona contract in Joan Laporta's last days at Barca is now pretty much done at Arsenal. His signing could be announced as soon as formal talks end.

Espanyol: the seven year of Carlos Kameni at RCD Espanyol is apparently over, a "total divorce" as Sport are reporting, and due to his recent statements deriding the club and its administrators for their "lack of ambition." The club have closed their doors to him, Pochettino prefers to hand the reigns over to back-up and fellow Argentine Christian Alvarez, get Kiko Castilla back from Cartagena where he's been on-loan as his back-up, and promote competition from their youth-team. As for Kameni? Is he headed finally to England? Spurs have been aware of him for years.


Mallorca:  
Real Mallorca: the club have announced that they will have an operating budget well below their current one and will likely lose many of their top players like Webo. German Lux and Ayoze have already been released. Are they prepared to bring in the likes of a Dani Guiza and Nelson Valdez from Hercules on the cheap?

Around La Liga 06.07

Valencian Community:
Valencia: ex-Real Madrid midfielder Dani Parejo is about to be signed straight-away from the grasp of Getafe Club Dubai. Fun to say that. Are they going to change the Burger King logo by the way?

Villarreal: In a weird bit of musical chairs, ex-Valencia keeper Cesar Sanchez has signed with Villareal as Almeria's former keeper Diego Alves is taking up Cesar's role with Los Che. Does this mean that Villarreal's keeper Diego Lopez will replace De Gea at Atleti with the youngster finally travelling to Man Utd.? I'm tired just typing that.

Levante: a local businessman, Eduardo Jarque, has come forward with a proposition, acting as a mediary with funding coming from "English money", to buy Levante for 70 million euros and eliminate the 68 million euros in debt that saddles the club. He even wants to compete for Europe and tried in vain to contact former coach Luis Garcia-Plaza from accepting his deal with Getafe Dubai Club. Love saying that. 

Andalusia: 
Real Betis: with Ghanaian keeper Razak Brimah not continuing with Real Betis, the club are studying an offer for either Fabri who is owned by Real Valladolid but is playing his time with Recreativo Huelva and/or Keylor Navas who plays for Albacete.

Sevilla: Marcelino Garcia Toral was publicly unveiled as Sevilla FC's new coach and offered these words, "We have a duty to fight for Champions League qualification and to get third place in the Liga. We have a real chance to do it and we are optimistic."

Malaga: Joaquin, Valencia's right winger, has one year left on his contract with Los Che who are baulking at extending his deal. Malaga are keen on signing him but are negotiating the 7 million euro price-tag. He would prefer to stay but would like a better deal this late in his career.

Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: with the former Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique formally accepting the AS Roma job in Italy, the lead candidate to walk the plank at the Vicente Calderon is not Athletic Bilbao's Joaquin Caparros, but former Sevilla and Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano. Manzano is a tough disciplinarian. I wonder who cracks first. This would be his secon term in charge at Atleti.

Real Madrid: how credible are the Kaka-maicon swap between los blancos and Inter Milan? At this part of the silly season nothing seems implausible. More likely is the Fabio Coentrao rumor from Benfica who are trying to inflate the transaction and Lassana Diarra stating the obvious that his future lies in England. A center-midfielder with few ball-skills and a penchant for dirty play? Perfect for the Premier League.

Getafe: Luis Garcia-Plaza is the hot-ticket item in La Liga. He took the lowest payroll into permanency for at least another year (the yo-yo is stalled) but now takes over at a club with a much higher payroll and higher profile. How successful will he be? He won't be able to hide any-more. His paymasters expect a spectacle now.

Rayo Vallecano: another Lass, this time promising striker Alhassane Bangoura Lass who plays for Rayo and made his debut for Jose Ramon Sandoval is in Real Madrid's sights, as he is for Udinese, Villarrealand Sevilla FC whose new coach Marcelino knows him very well as his son Sergio plays in the Rayo Vallecano youth team.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: the Jose Angel signing is officially dead. Barcelona have opted instead for negotiating with Jose Enrique of Newcastle Utd. if the Daily Mail are to be believed. In the end I still think the player makes it to the Camp Nou. Clubs are inflating prices to cheat Barca. As well they should, but in the end when the transfer window looms I think they'll settle.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: the club have asked the regional government in Cantabria and their previous ownership group to step in if current head Ahsan Aly-Syed of WGA does not meet his financial commitments (13.5 million euros owed to players and a tax debt of 9 milllion euros). Racing are unable to take legal action against Ali. We've said it here before. This is no surprise.


Pais Vasco: 
Athletic Bilbao: if Caparros does leave Athletic, either to the unlikely choice of Atleti or to some other club willing to spring for such a higher rated coach, the Daily Mail in England have tipped Wigan coach Roberto Martinez to take over. If that isn't strange enough for you, former Barcelona forward Sparky Hughes who left Fulham FC in a tizzy would be the next likely candidate. Enough Premier League nonsense for you?

Real Sociedad:with French boss Philippe Montanier arriving at Anoeta, rumors are flying that David Trezeguet and former txuri-urdin midfilder Nihat Kahveci are likely to sign.

Navarra:
Osasuna: former Espanyol and most recently CD Tenerife defender Marc Bertran Vilanova has signed with Osasuna for three seasons.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: Mexican  coach Javier Aguirre is looking at bringing in countryman Efren Juarez. The little used Celtic midfielder is a full international and could land for around 3.5 million euros.

Catalunya:
Barcelona: the rich get richer. The club have apparently come to terms with highly touted forward Chilean Alexis Sanchez for around 3 million euros. His current club Udinese have not yet agreed to the deal but it is looking more and a fait-accompli.

Espanyol: President Daniel Sánchez Llibre has stated that as of July 2nd, he will be stepping down. Vice-President Ramon Condal looks the likely candidate to take over.


Mallorca:  
Real Mallorca: Valencia coach Unai Emery has stated he needs a central defender and a left-back. Mallorca players Ivan Ramis and Gonzalo Castro are in the mix.

Around La Liga 5.31

Valencian Community: 
Valencia: Vicente Guaita has extended his contract with the club until 2016. Whether that means that he will be a starter or will continue to backup Cesar for one more year is still to be determined.

Villarreal: Signed for 7 million euros from FC Twente in Holland last summer, the yellow submarine are interested in Austrian striker Marko Arnautovic from Werder Bremen. The troubled player has been in the news for brawling in public, criticizing the Bundesliga club openly and by claiming in an interview that he could love no woman in the world more than he loves football. Step aside Balotelli, we have a new winner.

Levante: coach Luis Garcia is trying desperately to get out of his contract with Levante, as newly rich Getafe Dubai Club have offered him a contract.

Andalusia: 

Real Betis: coach Pepe Mel has signed a three year contract extension with the club until the 2013-2014 season.
Sevilla: Racing coach Marcelino Garcia Toral has emerged as the number one candidate for the vacant Sevilla FC position. An offer is on the table, now the ball is in Racing´s court if they are going to retain the Asturian´s services.

Malaga: the club have apparently offered 35 million euros to sign Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore. Signing the Argentine ahead of every other one of his suitors would be a coup for the club´s Arab owners.



Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: It might be the dysfunctional management structure or the fact that he is a life-long madridista but Rafa Benitez has turned down the offer to become the next Atletico Madrid coach in wait for a better opportunity in England. Former colchonero icon Diego ¨El Cholo¨ Simeone is apparently still in the running as is Gregorio Manzano lately of Sevilla.

Real Madrid: there will be no move for Sergio ¨El Kun¨ Agüero. Atleti have remained firm in their desire not to sell to their rivals. It is doubtful that this is a Mourinho move as he has been adamant that he would like fellow countryman Fabio Coentrao in his defense.
Getafe: Michel will not continue as Getafe coach. The split is apparently amicable. Now the search for his replacement continues. Luis Garcia of Valencia is front-runner.
Rayo Vallecano: the community of Madrid have come out en-masse in support of Rayo Vallecano for their success in returning to the first division. An homage was given today, Tuesday, by the mayor and a group of city functionaries.

Galicia:
Deportivo La Coruna: replacing Miguel Angel Lotina will be Jose Luis Oltra, one of the only coaches with a worse record last season than Lotina.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: negotiations between Sporting and FC Barcelona for  Sporting left-back Jose Angel have broken down completely apparently because negotiations were leaked to the press.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: with Marcelino headed for Sevilla on a one-year contract, former Hercules coach Esteban Vigo looks likely to spurn offers from Almería and Xerez and stay in the first division with Racing as his replacement.

Basque Country: 
Athletic Bilbao:  Presidential elections are crazy, but challenger Josu Urrutia does not count on Joaquín Caparros as his coach. Instead he has four names to sit on the bench at San Mamés: Andre Villas-Boas of Porto, Marseilles coach Didier Deschamps and former Barcelona coaches Frank Rijkaard and Louis Van Gaal.
Real Sociedad: Valenciennes coach Philippe Montanier has been offered the role to become the next coach at Anoeta and replace fired Uruguayan coach Martin Lasarte.

Navarra:
Osasuna: the Iranian duo of Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei will continue at the Reyno de Navarra stadium.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: coach Javier Aguirre has signed a contract extension with Real Zaragoza until 2012 with an option year on top.

Catalunya:
Barcelona: Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi and his agent are negotiating with the blaugrana, and his price-tag apparently is in the 20-30 million euro range. Pep Guardiola is still pushing for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas but the price-tag is too high.

Espanyol: AC Milan are apparently sending defender Didac Vilá. Fulham have offered a 10.5 million pound offer for striker Pablo Osvaldo which has been rejected. Espanyol want 17 million for the Italo-Argentine.

Mallorca:
Mallorca:  Cameroon striker Pierre Webo is likely to join a club in England, with West Brom, Newcastle and Sunderland as likely candidates.

Around La Liga 05.24

Valencia
Valencia: Unai Emery has renewed his contract with Valencia CF for one year. Which means either that he capitulated, failing in his attempt to secure an extra year for finishing third, or that he won the battle to start selling the likes of Ever Banega, Chori Dominguez and David Navarro, players that he has had difficulties with in the past.

Villarreal: without stating his destination, Villarreal have essentially come out and confirmed that forward Giuseppe Rossi will be leaving the club shortly. Barcelona anyone? Is Real Madrid’s Sergio Canales his ultimate successor? Only Fernando Roig knows.

Levante: Manchester City reject Felipe Caicedo has spent a productive year in Spain and has been rewarded by a nomination for the best foreign player in Spain. Congratulations to Felipao. You dance so well.

Hercules: with Hercules relegated, many players are about ready for the big-time. Winger Kiko is on Villarreal, Espanyol, and Valencia's radar.

Andalusia: 
Real Betis: the fire-sale continues. Espanyol defender Javi Chica is about to sign a deal with Real Betis Balompie for 4 years at an undisclosed amount. How many ex-Espanyol players are shoring up the squads of clubs in La Liga? It is shameful.

Sevilla: ex-Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa and Lyon coach Claude Puel are front-runners apparently for the vacant Sevilla coaching job, because as expected, Gregorio Manzano will not return to the Sanchez-Pizjuan bench. Sevilla have also signed Piotr Trochowski from Hamburg SV and Manu del Moral from La Liga rivals Getafe.

Malaga: after an electric beginning to his tima at Malaga, former Arsenal and Ghana winger Quincy Owusu-Abeye has quit the squad after being dropped by the club for lack of discipline. There is a reason the 25 year old has played for Ajax, Arsenal, Spartak Moscow, Celta Vigo, Birmingham, Cardiff, Portsmouth, Al Sadd before Malaga: indiscipline. Hard to believe but he then launched an abusive rant at his critics on twitter.

Almeria: Roberto Olabe who finished his term as Almeria’s interim coach, after serving as Sporting Director during their promotion to the first division when Unai Emery was coach, will not return in either capacity.

Madrid: 
Atletico de Madrid: Kun Aguero has dropped the bombshell of all bombshells. After warning that he would leave the club at his decision and under his time-frame alone, Aguero has called an end to his colchonero career. Speculation is rife as to his destination. Consider this however. The manner in which he came out suggests that he needs to put public pressure on Atleti from the get-go because his desired club may not be palatable to the board. Is he indeed headed to Real Madrid? I never believe Marca, but this may the once in a millionth time when they may be right.

Real Madrid: while Benfica winger Fabio Coentrao is certainly likely to head to Real Madrid, the club are unwilling to go beyond the 25 million offered despite the player’s escape clause which rests at 30 million. Madrid have offered Garay as a make-weight, but the Portuguese club are uninterested.

Getafe: midfielder Derek Boateng is being eyed by Paris Saint-Germain.

Rayo Vallecano: need I say more? Rayo becomes the fourth club from Madrid to be in the Primera. A marvelous achievement considering all that they have been through this year.

Galicia:
Deportivo La Coruna: having descended to the second division for the first time in 20 years, Depor are also losing their coach as Miguel Angel Lotina has handed in his resignation.

Asturias:
Sporting de Gijon: FC Barcelona have delayed the 4 million euro signing of Sporting left-back Jose Angel until after the Champions League final. The 21 year old defender is looking to spend the next four years at the Camp Nou.

Cantabria: 
Racing Santander: the loan deal that brought Giovanni Dos Santos from Tottenham has ended. Dos Santos however looks not likely to return to North London. An extension of the current deal might be in the cards.


Pais Vasco: 
Athletic Bilbao: one of the bright lights of the Real Zaragoza academy, Ander Herrera has agreed to sign with his hometown club for a 7.5 million euro transfer fee. His buyout clause is about 40 million euros.

Real Sociedad: the club have pushed out Uruguayan coach Martin Lasarte despite still having a year left on his contract. The club are apparently also courting Marcelo Bielsa.

Navarra:
Osasuna: Josetxo and Walter Pandiani have both said their goodbyes to the Osasuna faithful. They are also high on bringing hometown boy Raul Garcia from Atletico de Madrid.

Aragon: 
Real Zaragoza: coach Javier Aguirre will decide this week if he will continue on as Real Zaragoza coach. He will meet with club President Agapito Iglesias but would like assurances that he will be given a free reign to continue on as Zaragoza coach.

Catalunya:
Barcelona: the club are considering leaving early for London as the effects of this new volcanic eruption is likely to effect travel plans for this weekend’s Champions League final against Manchester United.

Espanyol: Uruguayan forward Juan Albin has landed from Getafe despite late interest apparently from Newcastle United in England. It’s an interesting signing, but I wonder if he can replace departing Jose Callejon. A former Real Madrid youth-team product, it is no surprise that Callejon is returning to los blancos. The club have also invested in Uruguayan midfielder Adrian Luna from Sporting Lisbon.


Mallorca:  
Real Mallorca: following a disastrous second half of the season that saw Mallorca in real danger of relegation, the Mallorcan press have called on the club to fire coach Michael Laudrup.

Mando Interviewed by RCD Espanyol

For those interested in this sort of thing, I was interviewed the other day for Rcdespanyol.com, I figured it would be a little blurb, but they really went all out. My thanks to Andrés Merello and everyone at RCD Espanyol. It is for these sorts of reasons that supporting a club like ours is so special. There is a real connection there. So if you´d like to practice your Spanish, or your Catalán by the way, or if you have a very good online translator, Click on the picture for a pretty long write-up of myself and of our website.

Around La Liga 5.14

Valencia: Valencia: Vicente Guaita will not participate in the Valencian derby because of a viral illness. Bed rest and will be rechecked next week. Villareal: the club will play Atlético Madrid in a friendly match to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Lorca. Each club will donate 1,000 tickets each to the fund. Levante: coach Luis Garcia has rubbished reports that implied that the club have a draw-pact for their derby, a draw would benefit both sides equally and greatly impact the race for relegation. Hercules: after drawing to Mallorca, the club have been relegated, which means ex-Juve striker David Trezeguet will be on the open-market.

Murcia: Real Murcia: returning to Segunda, after their second straight relegation in three years, would be an unbelievable achievement for the pimenteros. It will also mean an extra 4 million euros in the coffers and 60% of their players would renew contracts for next season.

Andalusia: Real Betis: Congratulations in order for beticos everywhere, welcome back to Primera. At long last the Sevilla derby can continue. Sevilla: The Diego Perrotti rumors to England abound. Everton, Tottenham, Liverpool have all been mentioned. You can forget Everton, if anyone gets Perotti it will the club that pay Del Nido the most money. Malaga: and the investment continues. Schalke´s Peruvian striker Jefferson Farfan is on Pellegrini´s radar for Malaga. Almeria: without any ceremony, Almería, after four consecutive years in Primera and their only years in the first division for a club that have only been in existence for 20 years, have been relegated. There should be a ceremony.

Extremadura: It is dry and very hot in Extremadura. Not a lot of football happening there..

Castile-La Mancha: After 21 years in the Liga de Futbol Profesional, Albacete Balompie, the Queso-Mecánico, or the Clockwork-Cheese, have been relegated to Segunda B.

Madrid: Atletico de Madrid: Quique Sanchez-Flores will leave Atléti to be replaced by former Real Madrid and Barcelona player, and more significantly here Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique. A fair trade-off? I´m not sure he´s the guy to resolve the drama that is Atlétitismo. Real Madrid: Why settle for one Altintop? I´m sure Mourinho can benefit from either Hamil or Hamit. Either way, Hamit is leaving Bayern for the Bernabeu. Getafe: Is Getafe the last club set for the relegation tango? Waht will happen to Getafe Team Dubai? Will Michel be given another club to run into the ground? Real Madrid, anyone?

Galicia: Deportivo La Coruna: tensions are mounting for relegation threatened Depor. Police and Depor supporter´s have clashed before Depor-Athletic.

Asturias: Sporting de Gijon: Like the Valencia derby, many are questioning Preciado´s motives before their match against Racing. A draw helps both sides, but especially´s Preciado´s former club Racing where he played his football. In other news, left back José Ángel could be on his way to Liverpool in the Summer.

Cantabria: Racing Santander: the club are awaiting the return of Gio Dos Santos. The Mexican forward is likely to return next week against Sevilla.


Pais Vasco: Athletic Bilbao: ending speculation that he will leave, midfielder Javi Martinez has signed until 2016. Real Sociedad: Antoine Griezmann is being tracked by Liverpool, should negotiations fail with Valencia for Juan Mata.

La Rioja: UD Logroñés: the club have secured another season for themselves in Segunda B, they have a place in next year´s Copa del Rey, even if they missed out on a playoff spot for promotion to Segunda.

Navarra: CA Osasuna: After a thrilling 1-3 win at Zaragoza, Osasuna under Mendílibar are practically saved.
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Aragon: Real Zaragoza: coach Javier Aguirre has promised his club´s supporters and the media that Real Zaragoza will stay in the first division. I like his confidence. I´m just not sure if he´s right or not. Either way, we will lose a big club in La Primera Liga.

Catalunya: Barcelona: Yeah, yeah, Barcelona campions, rahrahrah. Want to impress? Do it next year in Mourinho´s second year at Real Madrid. In other news, the case heats up against Sergio Busquets. Did he racially abuse Real Madrid´s Marcelo (calling him monkey-monkey) or merely say ¨mucho morro¨ which means ¨you have a lot of nerve.¨ I don´t know, but in the end it is sure that very little will come of it.  Espanyol: Pablo Daniel Osvaldo to Spurs? He´s a cheap option sure enough and he has the talent, but why do the club insist on selling its best players at cut-rate prices? Anything less than 15 million for the player is ridiculous.


Las Islas:  Real Mallorca: with Hércules down, the mayorquinos are keen on signing striker Nélson Valdéz if they can secure a place themselves.

Friends of Forza Futbol 4.29

A new feature here at Forza Futbol, FFF or Friends of Forza Futbol, will be a weekly article that publicizes the best blogs in English about the Spanish game.

World: First of all, before you do anything, point your clickers to Futbolita´s site. Her Picture of the day shows a very subdued pair of royal ushers. Is that Posh and Becks? Becks looks like Ricky Gervais even. Hmmm. Must be. For a more global perspective as well, check out our friends at Global Football Today. They have a very interesting take on the Real Madrid/Barcelona debacle. The guys at La Celeste Blog cover it too, and they seem to think that the press is making a meal of the idea that the tie is already Barcelona´s. Can Real Madrid come back from 0-2 down to go through? Read the article here. At the La Lambretta Blog, our friend Eduardo has posted an audio link to the call by announcer Antonio Heredia of Lionel Messi´s wonder-goal. Pure passion. At Vaishali´s Blog, we go back to her report on the aftermath of the Copa del Rey final win by Real Madrid. Great analysis by our favorite Four Four Two pundit.

Spain: At Glasgow Sports, they have a very detailed article about FC Porto´s next wanted man Andre Vilas-Boas, the coach that humiliated a very good Villarreal team in this week´s Europa League clash. La Liga the Midlands have a very detailed match analysis of Raul Gonzalez Blanco´s Schalke squad and their frustrating first leg tie at home against Manchester United. Our friends at Spanishfootball.info are covering the Spain U-20´s draw. A very favorable group of games. The guys at Madrid Atleticos are previewing the match against Depor, once a great artitistically appealing side, the Galicians are now snore enducing. For more crazed, pepino goodness check out the Ooh Betis Blog. they will obviously be returning to Primera soon. Read more on them here. And as always, for the best coverage of Villarreal´s Yellow Submarine, check out Villarreal USA. Send them a line of condolences from us. It was a sad day to get taken down by the Dragons.