The January transfer window, particularly deadline day, has never really caught my eye in La Liga until now.
Presumably that’s because most of the leading clubs in the Spanish top-flight have done their business the previous summer or, in the case of the New Year, long before the ticking clock appears on January 31.
This year has largely been no different and, with that in mind, there have been no distinct winners and losers in the market with most Spanish sides keeping their main men from the clutches of others.
However, a couple of moves – three to be precise – jump out to me as being the smartest.
And if the deals prove as astute on the pitch, then the clubs who have acquired those new faces are set to benefit in the months ahead.
The one that truly excites me, that could produce some real La Liga 2022 highlights and perhaps even give Sevilla a sniff in the title race, is the loan acquisition of Anthony Martial from Manchester United.
Only a week and a half ago, I watched the out-of-favour Frenchman come off the bench and play a part in a last-gasp victory at Old Trafford.
To me, he remains one of the most talented players in Europe when he is in the right frame of mind – especially when he was previously dubbed as the ‘Golden Boy’ – and perhaps a change of scenery could help in that regard.
Remember, he is joining a team who trail leaders and clear favourites with the SBOTOP La Liga 2022 betting odds in Real Madrid by only four points and have a 10-point advantage over reigning champions Atletico Madrid.
No one expects Sevilla to win La Liga, although their chances will increase if the currently injured Karim Benzema was to miss more than a handful of games for Real.
Either way, the temporary signature of Martial appears to be good business by Julen Lopetegui.
Speaking of Atletico, their title charge is all but over but they have potentially tightened things up with a good signing of their own in Lille defender Reinildo.
The Mozambique international has signed a three-year deal until 2025 and made 35 appearances last season as Lille surprisingly won Ligue 1.
Left-back Reinildo has 31 caps and will be a tidy recruit for Diego Simeone’s men as will Daniel Wass from Valencia, who are in fourth this season and 14 points adrift of their city rivals and leaders Real.
With Wass leaving, Valencia have brought in Bryan Gil on loan from Tottenham, while another Spurs man in Giovani lo Celso has also gone out on loan to Villarreal.
The other club which has grabbed my attention, though, is Barcelona.
For all their financial woes, they have managed to bring in some exciting talents during the window such as Ferran Torres (Manchester City, £46.3 million), Fabio Blanco (Eintracht Frankfurt, £840,000), Adama Traore (Wolves, loan), and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal, free).
And it is the latter move which has got everyone talking.
There was always likely to be a radical squad overhaul after the club crashed out of the Champions League group stage and were subsequently eliminated from both the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey last month.
In December, Barca boss Xavi pledged that the club will return to the level of Europe’s elite and wasted no time in delving into the transfer market.
Veteran full-back Dani Alves became his first signing as a free agent, but the defender will turn 39 before the season is out and he was signed in November before his registration kicked in this year.
The Catalan giants then confirmed the arrival of the Brazilian before completing the signing of Torres from Manchester City.
Barca were not finished there and secured the loan signing of La Masia graduate Adama Traore from Wolves.
The Spanish club will pay the 26-year-old’s wages and have an option to buy him in the summer.
Traore, who began his career at Barcelona before leaving the Nou Camp for Aston Villa in 2015, is far from the finished article.
After a spell at Villa, he spent two years at Middlesbrough before joining Wolves for a then club-record £18 million in 2018. The winger has made 154 appearances for the Black Country club, scoring 11 goals.
Yet, a return to familiar territory could have a positive impact on a player of undoubted natural ability.
The last word must go to the signing of Aubameyang.
Stripped of the captaincy and dropped by Arsenal for disciplinary reasons, his boss Mikel Arteta said the Gabon international had failed to demonstrate the commitment and passion to play for the club. That may well be true and Arteta has acted decisively.
Barca, though, will know if the player can reproduce the form which inspired the Gunners to FA Cup success just 18 months ago then they have a free transfer bargain.
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