Season Preview: Málaga C.F.

Málaga have been making the headlines this summer with their exciting transfer policy.  In part nine of our La Liga preview, Nicholas Rigg examines the Andalucian club’s chances this season.

Malaga CF – the new ‘Manchester City’ of La Liga. Not quite, but that’s the comparison that’s being widely reported ahead of the new Spanish season as the Andalusia club splash the cash on some pretty big names this summer. La Rosaleda gear up for their second full season with, wait for it, Sheikh Abdallah Ben Nasser Al-Than, a member of the Qatari ruling family, firmly showing his intentions for the club by keeping true to his promise of strengthening the Malaga side with some big-name players for the first team. Will it mean instant success for Malaga? Will they be the ‘real deal’ in 2011-12? The club’s owner has plans for them to become ‘Spain’s third club’ behind Barcelona and Real Madrid . It may not sound too ambitious given the money’s that’s now meant to be behind a club who are usually referred to as the ‘also-rans’, but it’s a big ask.

The Sheik completed his purchase of Malaga, essentially the reserve side to CD Malaga, a club who folded in 1992 due to financial difficulties but kept their reserve side going and eventually renamed them to the current club title, in May of last year, after Malaga had finished 17th in La Liga. His plans were clear, to turn the club into one of Europe’s biggest clubs and, although not aiming to dislodge Real or Barca in the ‘big two’, give Malaga European football on a consistent basis and then build from there. It didn’t happen last season, in fact the new owner was forced to make a change from Jesualdo Ferreira following a series of bad results, putting in place former Real Madrid manager Manuel Pellegrini for the remainder of the season. He eventually took the side from the relegation places, which definitely wasn’t in the Sheik’s plans, to a commendable mid-table finish in 11th.

Malaga certainly showed some signs of their financial clout last term when Martin DeMichelis was brought to Andalusia from German giants Bayern Munich, and former Arsenal and Real man Julio Baptista also penned a deal for Italian side Roma. The moves may not have been earth-shattering on the world football radar, in fact they hardly registered much interest at all in the English press, but it was a huge show of intent from a club such as Malaga. This summer gives the new regime the cash to really show what they’re all about, and they’ve already made a sackful of new additions to give the club a good chance of achieving a European finish this season. Former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy will lead the line after signing from Hamburg. While the Dutchman may be some years past his best, he’s still more the capable of finishing amongst the top scorers in La Liga. Interest from Madrid, when Mourinho tried to capture him before opting for Emmanuel Adebayor due to Hamburg’s reluctance to let him go, proves he still has admirers in high places. Midfielder Joaquin has also arrived to, what Malaga fans hope, provide the chances for van Nistelrooy. French international Jeremy Toulalan, Spain U20 international Isco (from Malaga, who cost 6 million euros from Valencia), Spanish defender Nacho Monreal, Dutchman Joris Mathijsen and former River Plate man Diego Buonanotte are also amongst the big-name arrivals in the south of Spain.

The spending hadn’t finished there, with Santi Cazorla making the switch from Villareal for 21 million Euros, Malaga’s biggest signing of the summer so far. Cazorla is certainly one of La Liga’s better players, but whether he’s worth the cash splashed by Malaga? Only time will tell. Malaga fans will hope these players, coupled with a manager in Pellegrini who will look to prove he’s the right man for the job, can take the club on to the next step on the ladder. The Sheik owner splashing the cash, and possibly the fact that Malaga play in sky blue, can point to comparisons with City. But Malaga have yet to break into that top bracket of transfer signings – the ones such as City’s huge statement in taking Carlos Tevez from Old Trafford to Eastlands, or signing Inter’s Mario Balotelli, or bagging Adebayor or Kolo Toure from rivals in the same league. Cazrola aside, maybe this is a sensible ploy from La Rosaleda, to gently build the club rather than rush through impatience. Or maybe not.

Malaga seem to be breaking new ground in recent weeks and months, being mentioned alongside Barca and Real, as well as footballing giants such as Manchester and Liverpool, in battling for some of the biggest starts in the game, according to reports. Adebayor has been linked with the club. The former Arsenal man enjoyed a loan stint at the Bernabeu last season but Real seem unwilling to take him on a permanent basis, while his future at City looks in serious doubt. Interest has died down of late, with Tottenham showing an interest in keeping him in England. But the biggest talking point is perhaps the fact they’re being linked with Wesley Sneijder this summer. The Dutchman, another former Real man, has been tipped for a move to Old Trafford this close season but Malaga are reported to be keeping an eye on his position at Inter. Whether this is simply to show Europe’s elite that Malaga are ready to be amongst the big boys, or whether they were actually serious about pulling the deal off is anyone’s guess, but Sneijder looks set to remain at Inter for the time being.  A signing of this calibre would certainly shoot Malaga to Manchester City status, and alert Spain’s ‘big two’ in some way, shape of form.

While excitement will be spreading around the City summer, Malaga should certainly look to walk before they can run with the big boys. A European spot could be achievable this season but that could well depend on the manner of Malaga’s transfer policy, and just how much the owners get involved and/or interfere with Pellegrini’s running of the team. A betting man wouldn’t bet too heavily on a Champions League spot, if at all, but it’s not out of their reach. Stranger things have certainly happened. Nor would a betting man see someone of the calibre of Sneijder in the sky blue and white this season, but that may not be too far in the future in the owner’s do plan to carry their plan through.

A 65,000-seater stadium has been put in the pipeline, a host of star names have already arrived, and Malaga have an experienced manager in place who has worked with the big names and the big clubs, and should be able to handle the pressure next season. I predict a Europa League spot for Malaga next season, but successful or not – they’re certainly going to be a team to keep an eye on in La Liga next season, and they’re certainly a team on the up.

Tags: Joaquin, Málaga CF, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Santi Cazorla