SuperSport viewers on DStv and GOtv have enjoyed a fantastic 2019-20 La Liga season to date. During this period of reduced football activity, here are the best and worst transfers in La Liga during the January transfer window.
Best signings
Suso – Milan to Sevilla (loan)
The Spanish playmaker has caught the eye at Sevilla after joining the club from Italian giants AC Milan having hit the back of the net once and registered one assist in six La Liga matches.
“I hope to play in the Champions League with Sevilla and to win something. I could stay here and I hope it does happen. In my time at Milan, I had three presidents, various coaches and dozens of teammates. You can’t create anything solid when everything changes each year,” Suso said of his time with the Italian club.
Paco Alcacer – Borussia Dortmund to Villarreal
The Spain international is enjoying his football at Villarreal after moving to the club from former German champions Borussia Dortmund and he has registered two goals and an assist in six La Liga games. “The decision to let Paco go was easy. Strikers, who don’t play, quickly get dissatisfied,” said Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Raul De Tomas – Benfica to Espanyol
The Spanish striker has hit the ground running at Espanyol after joining the club from Portuguese giants SL Benfica. He has hit the back of the net four times in six La Liga matches and already looks to be a great buy despite being a club-record signing at €20million.
The 25-year-old will aim to help Espanyol avoid relegation from the Spanish top-flight when the season resumes.
Worst signings
Yannick Carrasco – Dalian Professional to Atletico Madrid (loan)
The Belgium international has struggled to impress after rejoining the club from Chinese side Dalian Pro, having made five La Liga appearances (four as a substitute) without registering a goal or an assist.
“A year ago I wanted to go back [to Atletico] and they [Dalian] didn’t let me. They blocked the move and I was sad and annoyed, but I was professional. I did not say ‘I charge my money and I do not play,’” explained Carrasco.
Alessandro Florenzi – Roma to Valencia (loan)
The Italian full-back has had a poor start to life at Valencia after arriving from Italy’s AS Roma, having made just three La Liga appearances – including an unnecessary red card against Getafe.
“It’s a bit strange to see [Florenzi] wear another shirt,” said Roma’s Mirko Antonucci. “Alessandro was a leader in the dressing room and has always given everything to Roma. I don’t know what will happen next season, but I certainly hope [he will be back]. He is one of the teammates I am closest to and he helped me a lot.”
Hatem Ben Arfa – Free agent to Real Valladolid
The French playmaker joined the club as a free agent and much is expected from him, having played for European giants Paris Saint Germain (PSG), but he has made just two La Liga appearances and failed to score or register an assist in either.
Having been without a club since mid-2019, it will naturally take Ben Arfa some time to adapt back to regular football, but he will hope to narrow that gap compared to his teammates once the season resumes.
Until live sport resumes, SuperSport has converted its line-up to thematic channels for the foreseeable future. Fans of football can tune into SuperSport 3 to ‘Relive the Premier League’, while SuperSport 7 features ‘Relive the Best Football’, with a mix of the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Serie A and FIFA Documentaries.
