LaLiga’s weird rules strike again
Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement with Valencia over the transfer of Geoffrey Kondogbia, who will replace Thomas Partey at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atlético will pay €11m for the combative box to box midfielder and will confirm the transfer shortly.
Geoffrey Kondogbia to Atlético Madrid, here we go! Final fee to Valencia will be €11m + 10% future sale + add ons. Personal terms also agreed. Official soon.
He’ll join Atléti immediatly as Thomas replacement [special rule by La Liga]. ⚪️🔴 #Atleti #transfers @MatteMoretto
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 31, 2020
The transfer window ended in early October but after the circumstances around Partey’s deadline day exit from the club for Arsenal meant that Atléti were granted a month to sign a replacement.
Due to the fact that Atléti were powerless to stop Partey’s move after Arsenal triggered his release clause, LaLiga decided it justified to allow them to sign another midfielder but stipulated that the incoming player must be from another LaLiga club.
Diego Simeone’s side had already been linked with Geoffrey Kondogbia during the summer, as Valencia cleared out their most valuable assets in an attempt to balance the books. But Valencia would not allow the Frenchman to leave, which led to him publicly slating club president Anil Murthy on Instagram.
“After destroying an ambitious project, you have deceived your coach and now me. Thank you, Anil Murthy,” Kondogbia posted.
Nursing a heel injury, he has not trained with Valencia since the summer and not played a minute for Los Che this season.
The strange conditions around his move to Atlético will remind fans of Barcelona signing Martin Braithwaite in January from Leganes after suffering a number of attacking injuries. Leganes lost their best attacker because the league felt it necessary to grant Barça a signing they didn’t need, and were later relegated by the barest of margins.
Kondogbia was not exactly the most popular player at the club, but the same fate could befall Valencia this season with their depleted squad already having lost four of seven matches and lingering in 16th, two points above the relegation zone.
