The climax to the 2020/21 La Liga season was the most exciting in Europe as Atletico Madrid held off both Real Madrid and Barcelona to win a first league title in ten years.
It seems a while ago, doesn’t it? Football fans have since been mesmerised by stunning action at the Copa America and Euro 2020, while the CONCACAF Gold Cup is well underway in the USA and the Caribbean. But the 2021/22 domestic seasons are just around the corner and the transfer markets are warming up.
In Spain, the pre-season La Liga 2021 betting odds, here at SBOTOP, make it a three-horse race again with Barcelona, at 2.30, a nose ahead of Real Madrid at 2.50. Champions Atletico Madrid are close behind at 4.50 with Sevilla ahead of the rest at odds of 25.00.
With last season going to the wire the top three teams are desperate to strengthen before hostilities resume and the big La Liga 2021 news emerging from Catalonia is that Lionel Messi is ready to sign a new deal to stay at the Camp Nou, and that would be a sensational start for the Blaugrana.
The club has reportedly reached an agreement in principle with the Argentine to stay at the club for another five years and Messi, clearly delighted having helped his country win a first Copa America since 1993, is rumoured to be taking a 50 per cent wage cut to help out his club, and there will be a release clause of 600 million Euros. Lawyers are working on the deal so we’ll keep an eye on that one.
Atleti and Barca pondering a swap
With the news that Messi is prepared to stay in Catalonia, Barca might offload one of their other highly paid stars and there could be a swap deal between two of the big three, as talks are progressing between Atleti and Barca with a view to France star Antoine Griezmann returning to the Wanda Metropolitano and Saul Niguez heading the other way.
Les Bleus crashed out of the European Championships at the Round of 16 stage and Griezmann struggled to impress, so a move back to Madrid may be just what he needs to rediscover his very best form. He scored 133 goals for Atleti in his last stint at the club, and the move could also re-ignite Saul’s career after he suffered inconsistency during Los Rojiblancos’ title-winning campaign.
The move makes sense for Atleti who have confirmed the signing of Argentina’s attacking midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from Udinese. De Paul had a superb Copa America alongside Messi, and the 27-year-old has passed a medical and agreed a five-year deal. He is known for his attack-minded play, strong runs into the opposing half and a steady flow of goals and assists.
Back at the Camp Nou, head coach Ronald Koeman would dearly love to secure a similar attacking talent and Lorenzo Insigne would be a perfect fit for the Blaugrana according to Barcelona’s former sporting adviser Ariedo Braida. Braida admires the Italian’s pace and close control and his impressive return of goals of club and country.
Insigne has been a key player in Napoli’s team in recent seasons and was one of the players of the tournament as Italy won the European crown. There will be plenty of interest in Insigne so Barca will have to move smartly to lure him away from Serie A.
In the meantime, Barcelona have turned their attention to RB Leipzig wing back Angelino. The 24-year-old could leave the Bundesliga big hitters this summer, particularly if they succeed in signing Villarreal’s winger Alfonso Pedraza.
Is Lewi heading to Madrid?
Another big name who might just be heading from Spain to Germany, well a huge name, is that of Polish legend Robert Lewandowski. The FC Bayern man is rumoured to have said he’s been dreaming of a move to Real Madrid and, if there’s anything in that, surely Los Blancos will roll out the red carpet.
Lewandowski alongside Karim Benzema would be a terrifying prospect for Spanish defences; the Pole had another amazing campaign in Germany, scoring 48 goals in 40 matches in all competitions and, at 32, he’s in his prime.
Two other names which have cropped up at the Santiago Bernabeu are young Danish sensation Mikkel Damsgaard, and German international Leon Goretzka. The Sampdoria forward impressed at Euro 2020 and scored a screamer in Denmark’s quarter final defeat to England and immediately attracted attention from a host of top European clubs, finishing with two spectacular goals and one assist in a series of all-action displays.
Goretzka has been on the radar for longer, having performed consistently well in FC Bayern’s 2020/21 season, contributing eight goals and nine assists, and any suitor will need to shell out around 70 million Euros to secure the midfielder’s services.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
