Reality bites in Spain

La Liga’s winter transfer window shut more with a whimper than a bang last Thursday.

The biggest move on deadline day was Malaga, who are still in the Champions League, selling left-back Nacho Monreal to Arsenal for €10 million. Another Spanish international leaving the country in a big money deal, while no Primera División club spent any such sum to bring a player in.

According to respected online database Transfermarkt.com, Spain’s top flight clubs spent a total of just €13.6 million last month, between all 20 of them. Premier League sides combined splashed over 10 times as much.