After three days of La Liga, the Iberian media and supporters can already draw some lessons. For example, we can expect, without too much surprise, that Real Madrid and FC Barcelona will race through the championship, with considerable strike force in attack, both among the Merengues and the Blaugranas. Another first observation already drawn by many observers across the Pyrenees: the three promoted – Deportivo de La Corogne, Racing de Santander and Malaga – clearly have the cards in hand to stay in La Liga this season. It has been a long time since three promoted players gave such sensations of competitiveness and of being able to compete from the start for their return to the elite.
And this is especially true for Deportivo. After eight years away from La Liga, having even plunged to the third division, the Galician team is back and is not coming to make up the numbers. With one victory and two draws, Antonio Hidalgo’s troops are in eighth position in the ranking, and everything indicates that they have the means to finish quietly in the middle of the table… Or even above. And for good reason, the transfer window carried out by the Galician club is rather impressive for a promoted player. The historic club from the north-west of Spain is also the fifth La Liga club to have spent the most this summer, having made only one sale, which brought in only €500,000.
An attractive transfer window
First, Depor has mainly succeeded in retaining its best elements. This is the case of the talented midfielder Mario Soriano, or even the wingers David Mella and Yeremay, considered one of the most promising Spanish players of the moment, to the point where some have requested him for the selection while being in the second division. He has not yet really been able to shine in La Liga, the fault of pubalgia which has been handicapping him for several months. Then, the arrivals are particularly interesting. Without necessarily spending excessively – only 26 million euros – the Galicians have, for example, enlisted Leo Roman, one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga last season with Mallorca. Then, they relied on experienced profiles, like José Maria Giménez, a former defensive captain of Atlético, who arrived last night, as well as Adama Traoré and obviously Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The former OM striker has already become, in just three games, the idol of the crowds at Riazor. With 3 goals, the one who is already nicknamed Aura-meyang already confirms to be a big hit for the Galicians, and displays an exceptional physical condition despite his 37 years. The Galicians also struck hard with Marc Casado, the Barcelona midfielder who was also coveted by high-end clubs in Europe, while Lorenzo Amatucci, one of the best players in D2 last year with Las Palmas, joined the north-west of Spain. The Galicians also allowed themselves to try interesting bets with the prospects Jonathan Asp Jensen, attacking midfielder who arrives from Bayern, and Bright Ede, 19-year-old Polish central defender, who both cost 6 million euros.
A well-run club
Led by former midfielder Fernando Soriano, the Depor sports management has therefore achieved a more than ambitious transfer window. But inevitably, a question arises: how can a club that has just been promoted spend so much money without having sold? Especially with the financial fair play constraints of La Liga which bother much more financially powerful clubs. It should first be noted that the club is owned by Abanca, one of the most important banks in the country, originating from the La Coruña region. In recent years, after a major financial crisis which almost led to its disappearance, Depor has pursued a fairly significant austerity policy, relying heavily on training. Unlike other D2 clubs who offer astronomical salaries in the hope of moving up to La Liga, La Coruna has been cautious.
The team’s payroll was 13 million euros last year, and this season, with the new inflows of money linked in particular to first division TV rights, La Liga authorizes the club a total of 38 million euros, which has left the management with a lot of room to recruit. Where many clubs were already close to their authorized salary cap and therefore had to sell before being able to recruit. With a fan base solid, a historic club status across the Pyrenees and a Riazor always full, the club also has higher income than many La Liga clubs in terms of ticketing and sponsorship. Suffice to say that on the Orzán beach side, we can be optimistic for the years to come…
