La Liga, just three years ago the undisputed monarch of European football, returns for a new season on Friday after a traumatic summer
The free transfer of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday drove home the financial turmoil that is eroding the power of Spanish football.While Messi is the biggest star to leave, and his former club Barcelona have been particularly cavalier in racking up debts estimated at 1.2bn euros, Spanish football has money worriesThe league is trying to enforce a tough salary cap while searching for funds.
Like Barcelona, Real Madrid decided they could not afford a new contract for their talismanic captain. Like Messi, Sergio Ramos departed for a late-career jackpot at Paris Saint-Germain.Barcelona has picked up Memphis Depay, Eric Garcia, and Sergio Aguero.