Spanish Football
Hola,
Sorry there won't be a proper Spanish review this week as I have been on important family business here in Spain the past few days.
After a sluggish June, the big guns have finally got into some summer transfer action.
Barcelona got the ball rolling with a €41 million swoop for Atletico Madrid's Arda Turan, highly rated by manager Luis Enrique and coveted for some time. It will be interesting to see how the Turk will fit into the blaugrana's much-vaunted midfield now Xavi has definitely left the building.
Iker Casillas leaving Real Madrid for Porto happened very quickly too a couple of days later. The Spanish No.1 leaves the Bernabeu after 25 years since joining as a nine year-old; an end of an era indeed and still a little surprising given his mostly great form this season.
Casillas gave a tearful farewell address to the press but his parents were more forthcoming, blaming club president Florentino Perez squarely for ushering their son out of the club while protecting his favourites like Gareth Bale.
Keylor Navas is now Real's first-choice, unless a new goalie arrives between now and the end of the transfer window. David De Gea is still stuck in customs however, with the latest gossip suggesting Manchester United want Navas as well as Sergio Ramos in return, which looks unlikely. Ramos has just jetted out to Australia anyway for Real's pre-season tour.
Apologies again for a lack of the usual missive, but normal service will be resumed later this week.
Hasta Luego,
Sean,
Ponferrada, Spain
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