FCBARCELONA.CAT

30.06.2007 12:29

A quick start

Roger Bogunyà

Of the four teams that qualified for the UEFA Champions League next season from la Primera last term, FC Barcelona have sprung into action first in the transfer market snapping up three new players.

If any more additions are made to the squad then the quicker those players come in the better. That is the attitude that Barça have taken this summer as they have already signed Thierry Henry, Yaya Touré and Éric Abidal. The other three clubs at the top end of the table appear to be taking a more relaxed approach to the summer rebuilding programmes.

Three in five days

The first announcement came only eight days after the official end of the Spanish top flight season as Henry was introduced last Monday and 24 hours later Touré arrived. An intense week at Camp Nou was concluded when Abidal was presented on Friday, making it a hat-trick of new faces in just five days.

Madrid and Sevilla

The teams that finished in first and third place have yet to make any signings. Real Madrid have opted to wait to move into the market until after they have found and appointed a new coach, while Sevilla only played their final game of the campaign just over a week ago as they played in, and won, the Copa del Rey final against Getafe.

Busy at Mestalla

Valencia, who finished fourth in the league table have begun to add to their numbers. Coach Quique Sánchez Flores has welcomed the defender Alexis from Getafe and Javier Arizmendi who was signed from Atlético de Madrid after playing for Deportivo La Coruña last term. Los Ché have also signed a new sporting director in Miguel Ángel Ruiz, while David Albelda, Rubén Baraja and David Silva have all penned contract extensions.