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La Liga 2011-12 preview: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Getafe, Rayo Vallecano
Previewing the forthcoming 2011-12 Primera Division campaign, we take a look at the sides hailing from Central Spain’s Community of Madrid: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Getafe and Rayo Vallecano.
Real Madrid, Community of Madrid
Stuck in a perpetual state of revolution, Real Madrid finally find themselves in the rare position of simply polishing off an already spectacular squad.
Maintaining the overall spine of the team, the idea has been to invest in squad players able to come on and maintain the same standards as those occupying the starting XI positions. Players deemed to be dead wood, such as Ezequiel Garay, have been unloaded and in their place Real welcome several more youngsters - in line with their outlook for the future.
No Galactico has arrived so far this summer, despite protracted negotiations for the likes of Neymar and Sergio Agüero. However, in Nuri Sahin and Fabio Coentrao, they boast another two aces for Jose Mourinho to develop.
IN
Jose Maria Callejon, Espanyol, €5.5m
Hamit Altintop, Bayern Munich, free
Nuri Sahin, Borussia Dortmund, €10m
Raphael Varane, Lens, €10m
Fabio Coentrao, Benfica, €30m
Royston Drenthe, Hercules, end of loan
Jose Callejon, Espanyol, €5.5m
OUT
Pablo Sarabia, Getafe, €3m
Emmanuel Adebayor, Manchester City, end of loan
David Mateos, Real Zaragoza, loan
Juan Carlos Perez, Real Zaragoza, €2.5m
Ezequiel Garay, Benfica, €5.5m
Sergio Canales, Valencia, loan
Further reading
- New signing Nuri Sahin set to miss Real Madrid’s entire pre-season
- New signing Nuri Sahin set to miss Real Madrid’s entire pre-season
- Mourinho’s summer signings herald new approach for Madrid
- Kaka’s quest to rediscover fitness, form and greatness at Real Madrid
- Karim Benzema’s return to form presents tactical dilemma for Jose Mourinho
- Zinedine Zidane interview with Real Madrid TV
- Reports of agreement between Falcao and Real Madrid
- Barcelona and Real Madrid exempt from new noon kick-off time
Atletico Madrid, Community of Madrid
It is likely be a tough season for Atletico Madrid who have had to relinquish some of their best players, such as Sergio Agüero. Forced to make drastic changes both at management level and on the pitch, few have been impressed with their choices in the market.
The defence has seen new arrivals with Miranda being the most impressive. However it is the attack that is left looking lacklustre and Arda Turan will need to be in terrific form to carry the team through.
Their saving grace is new Coach Gregorio Manzano, the man who once performed miracles with Mallorca. Not a Coach who needs star players, he may well be the right man to revive a depressed giant.
IN
Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea, loan
Ruben Perez, Deportivo de La Coruna, end of loan
Silvio Pereira, Braga, undisclosed
Julio Alves, Rio Ave, free
Gabi, Real Zaragoza, €3m
German Pacheco, Gimnasia La Plata, end of loan
Arda Turan, Galatasaray, €12m
Adrian Lopez, Deportivo de La Coruna, free
Sergio Asenjo, Malaga, end of loan
Jorge Molino, Real Murcia, end of loan
Leandro Cabrera, Recreativo de Huelva, end of loan
Eduardo Salvio, Benfica, end of loan
Miranda, Sao Paulo, free
Ibrahima Balde, CD Numancia, end of loan
Keko, Girona FC, end of loan
OUT
Ibrahima Balde, Osasuna, free
Keko, Catania, free
German Pacheco, Karpaty Lviv, free
Tomas Ujfalusi, Galatasaray, €2m
Sergio Aguero, Manchester City, €45m
David de Gea, Manchester United, €25m
Juan Valera, Getafe, end of loan
Further reading
- Adrian Lopez given green light for Atleti move after ruling
- Atletico looking at Osvaldo and Falcao to replace Aguero
- Griezmann confirms he wants to join Atletico Madrid, criticises Real Sociedad
- From hero to zero and back again - Diego Forlan’s rollercoaster year at Atletico
- Complexities hold up Raul Garcia’s return to Osasuna
- Atletico offer €25m plus Salvio for Porto striker Falcao
Getafe, Community of Madrid
If there is one word that can be used to describe Getafe this season, it is ambition. Having snatched Luis Garcia Plaza, rated by several as the Coach of the Season last term, we are likely to see hard work and a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation deployed.
When the likes of Manu del Moral and Daniel Parejo were sold, it looked like Getafe were once again selling the best, but in their place have arrived some great prospects. The coup of the summer has to be Pablo Sarabia, the talented playmaker who captained the Spanish Under-19 side to European Championship glory this summer whilst at the back, Michelangelo Albertazzi, an elegant centre-back, arrives from Milan to bolster the fragile defence.
IN
Michelangelo Albertazzi, Milan, loan
Medhi Lacen, Racing Santander, free
Juan Rodriguez, Deportivo de La Coruna, free
Michel, Birmingham, undisclosed
Miguel Angel Moya, Valencia, loan
Pablo Sarabia, Real Madrid, €3m
Alberto Lopo, Deportivo de La Coruna, free
Tomeu Nadal, Mallorca, free
Diego Castro, Sporting de Gijon, free
Juan Valera, Atletico Madrid, free
OUT
Victor Sanchez, Barcelona, end of loan
Derek Boateng, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, €6m
Miguel Pallardo, Levante, €200,000
Javier Arizmendi, Neuchatel Xamax, loan
Juan Angel Albin, Espanyol, €3m
Mario Alvarez, Real Betis, free
Manu del Moral, Sevilla, €4.5m
Daniel Parejo, Valencia, €5m
Ivan Marcano, Villarreal, end of loan
- Munoz: “Getafe are missing at least three or four players”
- Rubin Kazan agree Nelso
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