By David Gold
January 24 – La Liga outfit Malaga, one of the richest teams in Spain, have been banned from transfer activity until they have paid back a debt to rivals Osasuna.
According to Spanish media reports, the signing of Nacho Monreal (pictured right) from Osasuna last June has put the southern outfit in trouble, and forced the Spanish league (LFP) to impose the transfer embargo.
Malaga were earlier this season the subject of a complaint from Villarreal over VAT owed to them following the transfer of Spain playmaker Santi Cazorla, the Andalusians’ record signing when he arrived last summer.
Transactions at the club can take up to two months to go through due to their convoluted payment structure.
Malaga were bought by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nassar Al-Thani of the Qatari royal family in June 2010 and since his arrival the club have spent significantly in a bid to reach the Champions League.
On their website, Malaga issued a statement which said that they “acknowledge that there are delays in some payments (including to Osasuna) due to the complexity in approving budgets and transactions with foreign entities.”
The statement went on to accuse Osasuna of singling them out, as well as being impatient.
“In one year, Malaga has received more than €120 million (£100 million/$156 million) and the organisation estimates that this amount, together with the personal guarantee of Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani (pictured right), should be sufficient guarantee for third parties to have patience with delays in payments,” the statement continued.
“[Malaga] understands that Osasuna is entitled to claim the amount owed, but such claims are being made only with Malaga and not with other clubs.”
The statement also promised that Osasuna would shortly be paid back what was owed to them, and they pledged to improve their financial administration to avoid similar problems in future.
The transfer ban may also lead to the LFP barring Malaga from fielding goalkeeper Carlos Kameni, who is their only signing during the current transfer window, which closes at the end of the month.
The two clubs are also involved in a fierce battle on the field, as they are among half a dozen in La Liga chasing the final Champions League spot for next season.
Osasuna currently lie in sixth place in the league, four points off Levante in fourth, and two ahead of Malaga in tenth.
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