Why the January Transfer Window Was a Success for La Liga
The January transfer window is quickly closing. Every club will hope they made successful decisions, but the deals also affect entire leagues.
La Liga, for one, witnessed a very successful January.
Constant rumors swirled around every club as one would expect. But the transfer window goes beyond which players left and which were brought in.
Some clubs desperately needed to make moves, while others were focused on making sure their stars did not leave. With this in mind, the overall month of January should be looked on with cheer for La Liga fans.
In this article we will cover the reasons why La Liga had a successful transfer window.
Continue reading to find out the most important moments for Spain's top league in January.
Big Stars Stayed Put
1 of 4La Liga is home to many stars, and many foreign clubs no doubt look to Spain to bolster their squads. But La Liga will be happy to say that their stars still remain in Spain.
Barcelona’s David Villa was constantly rumored to be leaving Spain throughout the month, but he still remains a member of the Blaugrana squad.
Recent reports claim that Arsene Wenger has desired to bring Villa to Arsenal, but a deal has not materialized. In addition, Manchester City has also been linked with the striker.
It appears, though, that he will not be moving, and La Liga will retain Spain's all-time leading scorer for now.
Radamel Falcao has also seen significant time in the rumor mill, but the Atletico Madrid star has not left Spain’s capital.
The Colombian striker is the hottest commodity in world football, as clubs realize he will not stay with Atletico forever. But La Liga is certainly benefiting from his presence as the duopoly of the league has been partially disrupted.
Lastly, many clubs desired Malaga’s starlet Isco. The Daily reported that Chelsea was ready to make a purchase, but Isco is set to stay in Malaga.
With all these stars staying in Spain, La Liga will continue to benefit from their talent. The presence of these players is very important to the league's success and seeing them leave would have been a sad moment.
New Contracts for Stars
2 of 4January is often the time for clubs to look ahead to the future. This can be done through purchasing new players or selling current ones.
But renewing contracts is also an important issue.
A few giants of La Liga renewed their contracts this month, which shows that the league continues to lure great talent to Spain. Most renewals were expected, but some were surprises.
Barcelona duo Xavi and Carles Puyol recently renewed their contracts with La Blaugrana, as they both look to retire at their boyhood club.
Xavi’s new contract runs until 2016, which will see him at Barcelona until the age of 36. El Maestro has enjoyed a successful career, and it looks to continue at the Catalan club.
Carles Puyol’s new deal will expire in 2016 as well. The Catalan defender has been the heart of the club, and his loyalty is certainly shown in his renewal.
But perhaps the most important new contract for La Liga is that of young Isco.
As I stated in the last slide, Isco has been admired by top clubs for some time. But the midfielder recently renewed his contract, which will certainly ward off other clubs.
The length of his deal remains the same, but Isco will receive a pay increase, as his buyout clause is now set at an outstanding €35 million.
Most Transfers Were Kept in Spain
3 of 4As everyone should have expected, deals were made and players left clubs. But instead of sending most players abroad, there were quite a few deals that kept players within Spain.
Real Betis loaned out Jonathan Pereira to Villarreal in a deal that was certainly great for both sides. Pereira will see many minutes with Villarreal and could make a return to Real Betis at some point.
Deportivo La Coruna was also able to take Atletico Madrid’s Silvio on loan. The defender can play in multiple positions and will prove to be a very important aspect of the side.
Granada was able to add some experience to their struggling squad by adding Zaragoza attacker Carlos Aranda. Similarly, Mallorca and Sevilla pulled off a great move for both sides when Sevilla sent young defender Antonio Luna out on loan.
Many other moves were made, but the above mentioned show a trend: La Liga clubs are looking to work together and that is a good sign for the league.
Smaller Clubs Improved
4 of 4The transfer window is mainly meant for clubs to improve in areas they are lacking. For most La Liga clubs, this is exactly what has happened.
It is very difficult to list all the transfers, so below are just a few examples.
Malaga was able to pull off a loan move for Chelsea’s Piazon. The 18-year-old has a lot of raw skill, but it will take time to harness his ability. The addition will give Malaga depth as well as a possible player for the future.
Catalan club Espanyol also strengthened their side, which was necessary after such a dismal start to the season.
Espanyol brought in Bolton winger Martin Petrov who will certainly add experience and a new dimension to a weak attacking lineup. This is just another small move that shows the club is on the right path.
But one shocking move was Mallorca's signing of Aston Villa’s Alan Hutton on loan. Not many saw the move coming, but it will certainly benefit Mallorca in the long run.
It looks as though La Liga is moving in the right direction after so many wonderful stories from the January transfer window. There is still time for other moves to happen, but at this point, January appears to be a success for La Liga and Spain.
What moves intrigued you the most? Will anyone move in the final hours? Don’t forget to leave your thoughts and comments below.
Tre’ Atkinson, The Catalan Blood of Bleacher Report. Follow @TreAtkinson
Check out my latest articles here.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
