Real Madrid and Barcelona have splashed out almost 200 million euros to bankroll their title aspirations but it’s the cut-price Jose Antonio Reyes who aims to shine as the new La Liga campaign gets underway this weekend.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will face stiff competition from Atletico, Sevilla and Valencia in the Spanish League
MADRID: Real Madrid and Barcelona have splashed out almost 200 million euros to bankroll their title aspirations but it’s the cut-price Jose Antonio Reyes who aims to shine as the new La Liga campaign gets underway this weekend.
Champions Real have led the way with an estimated 120 million euros (160 million dollars) outlay on eight new players including Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze, Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Brazilian defender Pepe.
Barcelona have spent 70 million on the likes of French striker Thierry Henry, defensive compatriot Eric Abidal and Argentine defender Gabriel Milito.
Atletico Madrid, determined to feature alongside Sevilla and Valencia as contenders, have also spent a similar sum. But as the new season begins one man for who Real would not open the cheque book will be seeking to trip up the club who spurned him.
It was thanks to Reyes’ two goals in the final minutes of the season that Real pinched the championship from under Barcelona’s noses but the hierarchy at the Bernabeu would not pay the 12 million euros Arsenal wanted for the Spanish international winger.
Instead, he joined Atletico after Real offered just half the asking price.
With Valencia adding Real veteran Ivan Helguera and German international keeper Timo Hildebrand to shore up their defence, and Sevilla bolstering their back four with Khalid Boulahrouz from Chelsea, this season could become a five-team race.
It may not necessarily bode well, however, for the Spanish national side that Real and Barca have primarily gone Dutch, French and Latin American in their transfer market delvings.
Real will have Robben feeding Ruud Van Nistelrooy with Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder pulling midfield strings while Barca, who traditionally are the more Dutch-influenced of the two, will have Frank Rijkaard looking for his third Liga title at the Nou Camp helm.
Real coach Bernd Schuster, one of a select band to have played for Real, Barca and Atletico, has tried to load the pressure onto the Catalan club, insisting it will take time for his new team to settle and making his rivals the title favourites.
Barcelona will look to get off the mark with three points at Racing Santander, who have spent nothing this summer.
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