SEVILLA

08-09 LA LIGA STANDING: 3rd

Sevilla was able to secure a third place finish last season and qualify directly to the 2009-2010 UEFA Champions League. Not a bad ending considering they finished behind two very potent offenses like Barcelona and Real Madrid. But the Sevillistas will have their hands full this season. They’ll have to endure two very difficult tournaments like the Champions League and La Liga as well as the Copa del Rey. The duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona made big offseason signings, but the folks at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan remained cool. Sevilla means business this year and they’re showing their big guns too. It seems that Sevilla has sealed the services of Alvaro Negredo for the next four seasons in exchange for 15 million euros.

Negredo’s signing is a great addition to Sevilla’s offense. Negredo scored 32 goals for Almería the last two seasons. Sevilla also has their go-to guy in Kanouté, who lead the team with 18 strikes last season. Let’s not forget about Luis Fabiano. Fabiano was linked with a move to AC Milan, but it looks like the Golden Boot winner of the 2009 Confederations Cup will remain in Seville. Defensively Sevilla remains intact. Sevilla had the second best defense last year, behind none other than Barcelona’s defense, and the core of their back line and midfield will be back for this season. Watch out for Sevilla as they may be a force to reckon with in La Liga this year.

MARKET MOVEMENT

Players In: Negredo (Real Madrid), Lolo (Málaga), Duda (Málaga), Alfaro (Tenerife), Pablo Ruiz (Córdoba), De Mul (Genk), Fernando (Otinyent), Zokora (Tottenham), Sergio Sánchez (Espanyol)

Players Out: Javi Navarro (Retired), Maresca (Olympiakos), Crespo (Racing), Mosquera (América of Mexico), De Sanctis (Napoli), Prieto (Xerez)