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26 million euros. This is the amount spent by the 20 Liga clubs this winter. It is less than the German D2 for example, knowing that in addition, half of these 26 million euros left on a player, Cucho Hernandez, the new Betis striker. A situation that can be seen as a disaster by some – and this Rachitian transfer window also makes a lot of talk about our neighbors – but which has many explanations. Inevitably, the first reason is on the side of the Liga regulation and its very strict financial fair play, which prevents clubs from living above their means. Generally, clubs are used to reaching their salary ceiling and spending all the money allowed by the liga rules during the summer transfer window. Except sales, they therefore have practically no margin or purchasing power for the winter.
Precisely, if the liga has hardly spent, it is also because its clubs have not experienced major departures. 46 million euros entered the club's funds in total, and these are departures of unimportant players, like Tasios Douvikas, replacing Celta sold in Como for 14 million euros, or D 'Assane Diao, also sold to the Italian club for 12 million euros after having been established only twice with the Betis on the first part of the season. You will understand, if the liga has not really strengthened, it is also because it has not weakened.
An evil for a good?
It should also be noted that the winter market is above all a transfer window where we “repair” and where we take possible opportunities. The Betis made it for example with Antony, arrived from Manchester United on loan, or Villarreal with Tajon Buchanan. But generally, Liga clubs which have purchasing power did not necessarily need to strengthen, or voluntarily chose not to do so. The 3 big ones did not bring the slightest player, and clubs which also have fairly important financial possibilities such as Real Sociedad, Athletic or Villarreal have also remained calm, already having rather solid and complete numbers.
With its financial control, La Liga aims to ensure that its clubs are rather healthy and above all, that they do not depend on sales of players to be able to live, and then recruit. A goal that begins to materialize, and as reports El Mundoin the space of only four years, the sums collected by the sale of players have decreased by 50%, proof that the Liga manages, more and more, to keep its talents, hence the low sales this summer. Even if there are still some bad students, Spanish clubs are now rather healthy, which was not yet the case a decade ago. And it is, in part, because of this financial fair play that bridles the teams a little on the transfer window. Not spending does not necessarily mean poverty or financial crisis.
The selection benefits
The fact that Liga clubs have not recruited is therefore not inevitable – at least for most of them – and this austerity is wanted, part of a long -term plan to make clubs Liga less and less dependent on external factors such as the transfer window to survive. It is also a very good opportunity for young players, and the recent successes of Spain but especially of its youth teams, with the title at the Olympic Games and the Euro U19 this summer, are clearly explained by the will to get out of the players from the training centers. While some clubs were already betting a lot on the Academy and have always given young people their chance, these restrictive measures and this austerity policy have pushed other teams, sometimes under stress, to have to do the same.
There are more and more young Spaniards launched in the deep end, and inevitably, more margin of progression for these young and more quality Iberian players for national selectors. Of course, as usual, you have to qualify a little and this fairly restrictive policy could also, in the long term, prejudice the Spanish training, especially in European competitions. Just like some clubs, for different reasons, remain in a complicated financial situation, like Valencia or Espanyol, while other clubs like Seville, historically very fond of players trading, struggle to Adapt to this new, more peaceful context in terms of transfer window. But overall, there is no matter to worry …