By Doug Reed @DougReedFutsal

The 2013/2014 Spanish League (LNFS) commences this week after a busy summer of transfer activity. With the transfer window now closed until December I highlight some of the key incomings and outgoings.

The big news of the summer was Caja Segovia’s, now renamed Segovia Futsal, financial problems meaning that this historic club was close to disappearing but eventually survived, albeit demoted into the 2nd division. Last year they finished 4th in the regular season with a squad full of talented young Spanish players and they were all given the freedom to find new teams. There was no lack of interest in acquiring their services as other clubs took advantage of the situation.

Burela added Antonito to their ranks and, with their other signings this year, it looks like they possess a squad of sufficient quality to compete near the top of the division after surviving a relegation battle last season. They also added former Inter Movistar player Hugo from Santiago futsal who will hope his injury problems from the last couple of years are behind him and he can begin to fulfil his potential.

Another trophy-less season at Inter Movistar meant the revolution continued this summer with numerous players coming and going at Spain’s most successful club. Out went the three players they signed just six months previously; Oitemeia, Borruto and Gadeia all left as well as Álvaro and Eka who both moved to Italy.

From Segovia in came Borja Diaz, Murga and goalkeeper Jesus Herrero, who was there on loan. They will be reacquainted with Toby and Matias alongside head coach Jesus Velasco, who all arrived from Segovia over the last couple of years. They also added experienced pivot and another former Caja Segovia player, Nano Modrego. For Velasco the ‘honeymoon period’ is over and he will be under pressure to obtain results in his 2nd year to return the good times to the ´Green Machine´.

Interestingly Inter have allowed Spain´s first choice goalkeeper, Juanjo, to move to Santiago Futsal on loan. With 37 year old Luis Amado still a key figure in the squad and the return of Herrero after an excellent season in Segovia, Juanjo was not guaranteed games and decided to move to the Galician side.

However the biggest transfer story for Inter was the signing of Portuguese icon Ricardinho, a saga that lasted the whole transfer window but was only concluded just before the deadline. Previously playing for Nagoya Oceans in Japan he will add some sparkle to Inter’s constantly changing squad. It is a great scoop for the league which in recent years, due to the economic situation, has been losing its stars. However this was an exception and that general trend continued as shown with the loss of Santiago’s Alan Brandi to Benfica, who won the league’s Best New Talent award last season.

It was much more tranquil at Inter´s main rivals for silverware this season. Last year Barcelona won the domestic triple and their transfer policy has been “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” They haven’t added any new players and there have been no major departures. They have loaned youngsters Marc Tolrá and Eric Martel, to Xota Navarra and Marfil Santa Coloma respectively, to gain more experience after being called up to the 1st team last year. The signs are good so far for the Azulgrana after already claiming the Supercopa this season by defeating El Pozo Murcia.

The Murcian side have signed Spanish international Raúl Campos from Santiago. Last year he scored 32 goals and was the 2nd highest scorer in the league. Paulinho has left for Italy after just one season in the club and so they will be without a left footed pivot which has been feature of their play in the club´s recent history. They will hope Campos will add the goals that can take them one step further in the league, after finishing as runners-up in the last two seasons, in what will be almost certainly be club legend and captain Kike’s final season before retirement.

To consult all the transfers in Spain over the summer click here.







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