The Soccer Transfer Window closed in Europe. Which teams are the biggest winners and losers? Let's take a look at the teams and their success or failure during this off-season.
Spain's La Liga
Real Madrid, the Spanish League and European champions, had an efficient transfer window. While they lost Alvaro Morata and James Rodrigues to Chelsea and Bayern Munich, respectively, they added young, talented players like Theo Hernandez, Dani Ceballos, and Jesus Vallejo, which will help them continue to have the deepest and most talented roster in Europe.
Madrid is still the team to beat.
FC Barcelona is one of the biggest losers in this summer transfer window. They lost Neymar to PSG and were only able to replace him with Ousmane Dembele for a staggering $175 million. Dembele has shown a lot of promise, but he is an inexperienced 20-year-old. The team needed further changes, but only 29-year-old Paulinho and right back Nelson Semedo arrived. Their inability to acquire elite players like Marco Verratti and Philippe Coutinho, whom they pursued, further angered their fans. Barcelona has a lot to think about and a lot of reconstructing to do
Atletico de Madrid was not allowed to register new players during this transfer window due to the FIFA sanction.
However, the front office still managed to accomplish the difficult task of keeping their star players like Antoine Griezmann, Saul, Koke, and Oblak. Atletico will continue to be a solid team to watch out for in Europe.
Britain's Premier League
Chelsea needed to improve significantly if they wanted to repeat last year's success.
Alvaro Morata is an excellent addition at the forward position. But head coach Antonio Conte could not get rid of disgruntled striker Diego Costa. Bakayoko and Drinkwater will supply the team with further strength in the midfield. But Matic's departure is important and the central midfield still lacks talent. Chelsea will be playing the Champions League this season, so they will have more work to do and less rest.
Manchester City has spent the most yet again ($289 million), but they desperately needed to revitalize an aging squad. Goalkeeper Ederson and full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy will give them more security at the back. Bernardo Silva will add further creativity in the middle of the pitch. If City can defend this season, then they will certainly have real chances of winning important trophies.
Manchester United have high hopes for this season. They added Lindelof to improve their defense and Matic to allow the ball to flow a bit more in the central midfield. Romelu Lukaku gives them more strength, agility, and speed at the forward position. Zlatan Ibrahimovic also re-signed and will have to wait for his turn once he is back from his injury next year.
United look to be more solid and threatening up front this year.
Arsenal and Tottenham failed to make significant signings, and their fate looks duller than that of the English teams discussed above.
Italian Serie A
Juventus de Turin suffered an important blow this off-season due to the departure of their iconic defender Leonardo Bonucci to rival AC Milan. In return, they received De Sciglio, but the young player still has a lot to prove. The additions of Douglas Costa and Bernardeschi do improve their wing play. Juventus will need to bounce back from another disappointing Champions League Final loss and a dubious off-season.
AC Milan has apparently risen from their ashes. They have surprisingly spent $237 million on 11 signings.
Players like Bonucci, Calhanoglu, Andre Silva, and Ricardo Rodriguez will lift Milan to higher heights and hope to be in contention for the Serie A title like old times.
French Ligue 1
A special mention has to be given to one of the biggest winners in this transfer window, Paris Saint-Germain. The French, or Qataris, shocked the world when they acquired Brazilian superstar Neymar for $262 million and further shattered the market as they landed 18-year-old prodigy Kylian Mbappe for $213. They will finally be a team to watch for in the Champions League.
