A market to boast about Espanyol: "It's the year I'm happiest"
Andoni Gorosabel is the seventh and last summer signing of the white-and-blue ensemble
BarcelonaEspanyol has ended the first transfer window of the Monchi era with two operations closed on the last day of the market: the departure of Rubén Sánchez to Elche and the incorporation of Andoni Gorosabel on loan. A right-back who was not in Manolo's plans leaves, and another arrives, from Athletic Club and with a lot of experience in the First Division, to compete with Omar El Hilali for a place in the starting eleven.
The Basque footballer has become the seventh and final signing of a transfer window with the undisputed stamp of Monchi, a sporting director who has always been characterized by signing and selling a lot. Sixteen players have left the white-and-blue club and, counting the four who were returning from loan –Marcos Fernández, Rafel Bauza, Javi Hernández, and Roger Hinojo–, there are eleven new faces that Manolo González has in the dressing room. The coach is very satisfied with the work of the man from Cadiz.
Monchi, at Manolo's service
Monchi considers himself "a dressing room sporting director" and is very close to the footballer and the coach. He is very clear that he is at the service of the coach: Manolo defines the characteristics and Monchi provides the names and surnames.
"What I'm saying could turn against me, but it's the year I'm most happy with the squad and the way of working. It has been done jointly, everything has been discussed and players have come that the sporting direction and technical staff have agreed upon," the Galician confirmed a few days ago, particularly happy with the signings.by Àlex Calatrava, who had already been wanted by Badalona last summer and years ago, and Bryan Zaragoza. These are the profiles Manolo was looking for to try and build a more associative and brave Espanyol with the ball.
With a reduced salary cap and limited resources, Espanyol has not been able to afford another playmaker midfielder or a striker to cover for Kike García while he is injured. Furthermore, they have only signed one player permanently: Calatrava. However, they have been able to include purchase options for Vanja Drkusic, Unai Núñez – the two centre-backs, signed to bolster a depleted defence – and Bryan Zaragoza, the summer's major signing.
Without a place at Bayern Munich and in an apparent footballing decline, Bryan is a winger who in his prime would be very far from Spanish reach. An incorporation made inMonchi. The man from Cadiz made Sevilla great by discovering unknown talents –"This is now a pipe dream", said to ARA Daniel Pinilla, author of'The Monchi method–, but also detecting market opportunities, recovering players who were not at their best. Bryan Zaragoza, who could end up staying at Espanyol for an amount close to eight million euros, is a great example.
The arrival at Espanyol of the Andalusian sporting director, one of the best-connected executives in Spanish football, has also allowed the Periquito club to sit down and negotiate with some of the great European transatlantic clubs: with Bayern Munich, for Bryan Zaragoza, and with Paris Saint-Germain, for Gabriel Moscardo. The young Brazilian midfielder is on loan from the last Champions League winner. The loan of Quilindschy Hartman, a full-back with a market value of 16 million, is explained, on the other hand, by the connection with Burnley, also owned by Alan Pace.
The legacy of Garagarza
With sporting director Fran Garagarza absent for many months, Monchi has had to manage his legacy. He has gotten rid of some of Mutriku's signings –like Miguel Rubio or Pablo Ramón–, but he has also benefited from the good work done by the Basque, the man who signed Marko Dmitrovic, Urko González and Roberto Fernández permanently, all three key players for Manolo González.
Garagarza also protected with a 25 million clause Roger Hinojo, Javi Hernández and Rafel Bauza, on loan last season. The first two, debutants in La Liga, have earned a place in the starting lineup and have become the great revelations of the parakeets.
Shortly before nine o'clock this September 1st night, Espanyol has declared the transfer market closed with the official announcement of Gorosabel's signing. The work is done and it will be the players' performance that will determine if it has been good. "Getting 50% of signings right is an absolute success," Monchi usually says.