La Liga Latest

By European Football
July 20 2005

Celta de Vigo are trying to return to the winning days after a season in the Second Division and have added their sixth signing: Diego Placente. Deportivo is willing to sell Albert Luque to Real Madrid. Racing and Valencia to the courts and Mallorca is strengthened.

Celta de Vigo is back in the First Division and is willing to never suffer a relegation again. They have now signed Argentinean full back Diego Placente, who comes from Bayer Leverkusen and has signed for three years.

Placente is the sixth signing; other new players are Uruguayan striker Fabián Canobbio and Javi Guerrero. But the team is going for their seventh signing: Kléberson. Manchester’s Brazilian midfielder would be loaned out and Celta would have an option to buy him after the loan.

Albert Luque is the new star in the Spanish transfer market. Deportivo’s trainer Caparrós is willing to sell him and stated:

“I’m one of those who think there is no essential player and that a good selling means to take five steps ahead.”

Real Madrid are very keen on the player and have started negotiations. Arrigo Sacchi admitted that the team needs a player in left attacking midfield and Luque would fit in perfectly. Deportivo claim that they haven’t received any offer, but think the player will leave anyway. His release clause is of 72 million euros, but a transfer fee would be around 20 million euros. Sevilla, Barcelona, Atlético de Madrid and Liverpool have also been linked to the player.

Also, Racing the Santander is taking Valencia to the courts. They claim 1.5 million euros from ‘Los Che’ as a compensation for Mario Regueiro’s transfer. The rules state that teams that try to sign a player whose contract is ending and is considering an renewal offer must compensate the former team owner of the player.

Mallorca has signed Italian young defender Alessandro Potenza, coming from Inter. He is added to other four signings like Argentine midfielder Francisco Maciel and keeper Toni Prats. The fifth signing is very close to come too, it would be Argentine winger Adrián Peralta.