The spending may have not been at the same levels as the juggernaut that is the English Premier League but it was still an exciting deadline day in La Liga.
Ok, so perhaps the actual day the window closed was fairly low key but there is much to look forward in Spanish football’s top flight given the summer arrivals.
Yes, we can look at the actual spending and the fact English football dwarfs everyone and anyone right now.
In fact, the disparity has existed for some time and is hitting eye-watering levels when the likes of newly-promoted Nottingham Forest can outspend Barcelona in what was a big summer for them.
Indeed, the summer window saw La Liga clubs outlay a total of €505 million according to Mundo Deportivo. That pales in comparison to the Premier League spend, which stands at €2.208 billion, over four times that of their Spanish counterparts.
That worries some Spanish football observers, as does the fact Real Madrid and Barca’s total spend made up virtually half of the total spend within La Liga, further highlighting the imbalance between the top two and the rest.
That is nothing new though – in whatever major European league you assess – and you would still expect Spain’s top clubs to hold their own and more when it comes to battles with Europe’s elite, just as they did last term.
Champions Real Madrid did their business swiftly and early on, bringing in Antonio Rudiger and Aurelien Tchouameni, and while they bid farewell to Brazilian international Casemiro last week, Carlo Ancelotti believes his squad is well stocked with sufficient quality to make a bid for all the major prizes once again.
He will also know this could be a final hurrah for a number of his squad as the club will need to make certain decisions on the future of those whose contracts are set to expire next summer.
After a drawn-out summer full of sagas, Barcelona may well be pleased the window is closed.
It was only recently that they were able to register all of their new signings as the club had not complied with La Liga financial rules, eventually freeing up funding with several ‘economic levers’.
Two more acquisitions followed on deadline day with 31 year-old Marcos Alonso, a great servant for Chelsea, joining the Catalan giants.
By terminating his contract with the west Londoners, it bought Barca extra time to seal his registration and he has now signed a contract which includes a €50 million buyout clause, although the club has not confirmed the option to potentially extend his deal beyond next summer.
He is looking to make his first La Liga appearance since 2010 this weekend and is joined by another defender who has enjoyed a considerable time in London.
Hector Bellerin says he wants to win a major trophy following his deadline day return. The Spanish international had already confirmed his intention to move back to Spain after spending last season on loan at Real Betis from Arsenal.
The 27 year-old came through Barcelona’s La Masia academy between 2003 and 2011 before opting to move to England as a teenager.
He is expected to play a key role for Barcelona in the coming months with US international Sergino Dest joining AC Milan on a season long loan in a whirlwind 48 hours in the transfer market.
Like his methods or not, Barcelona president Joan Laporta has certainly backed his manager Xavi Hernandez this summer as they look to close the gap on Real and their European rivals and Xavi now has the job of merging a new look team together.
As for the chasing pack, one of the best acquisitions for me is a veteran centre forward who is undoubtedly talented and a real asset if he can stay injury-free.
Over the past two seasons, Manchester United saw the best and worst of that.
Now Uruguayan international Edinson Cavani has spoken about his excitement at getting started at Valencia.
He has joined Los Che as a free agent, the 35 year-old previously linked with a possible moves to rivals Villarreal and Real Sociedad before opting to join Valencia as part of his desire to return to Spain.
If he hits the heights he is capable of, Valencia could well challenge for a top four finish after coming home in ninth place last term.
Overall, despite the financial gulf, there is much to be excited about in La Liga, but the top two will not change. Not this season or for some time to come.
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