La Liga’s Biggest Losers: Who have lost the most in the summer transfer market?

By Javier J. Hernández
Updated: 18 August, 2012

The Spanish financial crisis has hit La Liga hard this summer, with activity in the transfer market proving less than busy for the majority of clubs.

The league’s biggest teams; Real Madrid and Barcelona have signed just one player each so far, while the rest of La Liga seem to be losing talent by the day as many clubs are forced to sell their biggest stars to balance their books.

The loss of players such as Spanish international Santi Cazorla and Rayo revelation Michu is not only a blow to their respective clubs, but also a huge loss to the league itself.

With more than a week left of the transfer window there is also still time for more players to leave, however, for now lets take a look at some of the deals that have been done so far, and which teams have been the biggest loser.

Athletic without Llorente and Javi Martínez?

It looks like one of the best teams of last season are on the verge of losing two of their biggest stars, with Javi Martínez and Fernando Llorente both looking likely to leave. Without Llorente, Athletic will say goodbye to 35% of their goals from the 2011/12 campaign. However, the signing of Aduriz means the los Leones will get back seven of Fernando’s 17 goals – based on last season statistics.

Javi Martínez, who took a direct participation in 10% of the Basque goals last term, was also one of seven field players to start 30 games during the season and participated in six of the club’s nine clean sheets. If the rumors become reality, Athletic will certainly miss their two of their most influential players, and could also prove detrimental in their efforts to keep hold of a number of their other most promising young talents.

Obrigado Diego

Diego came to Madrid, helped win the Uefa Europa League for Atlético and then returned to Germany. Atleti will miss the playmaker, despite Diego making just three assists and scoring three goals last year, but the fact that they didn’t lose 27 goal hitman Falcao, outweighs the loss of the Brazilian.

Goodbye to the Latin connection of Santa Cruz and Montero

Betis lost their second best scorer when Santa Cruz returned to Manchester City, though they are talks of him coming back. Jefferson Montero’s departure to Mexico is a blow, however, and he took with him 26 starts and three assists.

Half Espanyol waves goodbye

With the departures of Wiess, Coutinho, Uche, Pandiani, Didac, and others, Espanyol have lost 21 of the 46 goals that they scored last season and nine of their 34 assists. To put those figures into percentages, that would be 46% of their goals and 27% of their assists.

Granada without playmakers

The Andaluz club may even things out with all their signings, but as its stands, without Carlos Martins and Franco Jara Granada lost their top two assist makers and 11 of the 19 assists the side made last season.

Levante will start this season 21 goals and 10 assists worse off

The departure of top scorer Arouna Koné means that the Levante have lost 27,8% of their goals. But the Valencian side not only lost their top striker, they also lost their second best assister and fourth best scorer in Valdo. Between Valdo and Koné they had a direct participation of 55% of Levante’s goals. Levante are famous in Spanish football for finding new talent – they will really need to make the extra effort this season.

Cazorla and Rondón equal half a team

Nobody has lost more this summer than Málaga – and not just losing their two biggest talents. They have also lost their chance to believe in a good Champions League run and a future challenge to Barça and Real Madrid. Málaga’s tragic demise means more than just losing players. To put a quantifying measure on it, the los Bocherones lost 44% of their goals when Rondón, Cazorla and Ruud Van Nistelrooy left the Costa del Sol. They also lost 25% of their assists. It’s going to be a very long season at la Rosaleda and Manuel Pellegrini begins the campaign with just 19 players and many, many doubts.

Chori Castro abandons the island

Mallorca will miss Chori Castro as much as fans will miss having football at a normal hour this season. The Uruguayan led the team in assists and finished third in goals – clearly a big loss for the Islanders.

Raúl García – the prodigal son leaves home again

After one loan season in Pamplona, Raúl García is back with Atlético which means that Osasuna have lost their top scorer and top assister. The player participated in 43% of their goals last year and it is a certainty that he will be missed at the club.

Vallecas is a wasteland

If one team can argue that they lost more than Málaga this season, it is Rayo Vallecano. And they could be right. They lost the competitive spirit of Movilla and coach Sandoval and maybe more importantly, the talent of Michu, Tamudo and Diego Costa. These three players accounted for 34 of the 53 goals that Rayo scored last season. That’s 64% of their goals. Favourites for relegation last season, Rayo are facing an even more difficult year this time around.

According to the specialist site transfermarket.co.uk, La Liga have had a transfer revenue of £102.317.600 this summer. It is believed transfer expenditures total £57.420.000, while the positive balance sits at £44.897.600, making clear that saving money is the main objective of the majority of clubs this summer.

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