The last week of July was a busy one for the clubs of LaLiga as several sides played pre-season friendlies abroad and as more transfers were completed and contract renewals agreed. Here’s all you need to know from around LaLiga this week. FC Barcelona win the race to sign KoundéAfter Sevilla FC decided to let Jules Koundé move on from the club this summer, several teams from around Europe were linked with the highly rated 23-year-old centre-back. In the end, FC Barcelona won the transfer battle, meaning the Frenchman’s skills will be staying in LaLiga. Kounde ignored Chelsea because he only wanted to join BarcelonaDembélé is the star of FC Barcelona’s US tourFC Barcelona concluded their US tour this week, having put together a string of positive results. They defeated Inter Miami 6-0, won ElClasico against Real Madrid 1-0, played out a 2-2 draw with Juventus and finished with a 2-0 win over New York Red Bulls. Ousmane Dembélé was the standout player during Barça’s time in the USA, scoring four goals across these four fixtures.Real Madrid get up and runningReal Madrid’s pre-season tour of the USA has also come to an end, with the Spanish and European champions improving with every game. After losing ElClasico to FC Barcelona, they drew 2-2 with Club América and then won 2-0 against Juventus in Los Angeles thanks to a Karim Benzema penalty and a strike from Marco Asensio.Atlético de Madrid’s promising start to pre-seasonAfter completing an intense training camp, Atlético de Madrid played their first two pre-season friendlies this past week. After defeating CD Numancia 4-0 in a friendly game held in Soria, Spain, Atleti then travelled to Oslo, Norway, to face Manchester United and they defeated the English side 1-0 courtesy of a late winner from João Félix.A day to remember for Rayo VallecanoWhen Rayo Vallecano’s pre-season fixtures were announced, their trip to take on Manchester United at Old Trafford stood out. For Los Franjirrojos, this really was a day to remember as they competed extremely well against the English side and earned a 1-1 draw, with Álvaro García netting the equaliser. Ronaldo debuts under Ten Hag in United’s draw against RayoAt least three more years of Aspas at RC CeltaRC Celta have had an impressive summer of recruitment, most recently reaching an agreement to sign Óscar Mingueza from FC Barcelona, but one of their most important deals has been agreeing a contract extension with talisman Iago Aspas. With his new deal, the club’s all-time top scorer is staying in Vigo until at least 2025. Girona FC sign MLS top scorer CastellanosAfter securing promotion into LaLiga through the playoffs, Girona FC have been working on improving their squad and they secured a major coup this past week by bringing in Taty Castellanos from New York City FC. The Argentine striker won the MLS Cup with NYCFC last year and was the top scorer in the competition, while he also led the scoring charts this campaign before his departure.One in and one out at Villarreal CFVillarreal CF had a busy week in the transfer market, signing right-back Kiko Femenía from Watford and selling winger Moi Gómez to fellow LaLiga side CA Osasuna. There, he’ll join up with Rubén Peña, who also made the switch from Villarreal CF to CA Osasuna this summer.Simeone and Gattuso get the players they wantedThere was also one in and one out at Atlético de Madrid this week. Coming in was Nahuel Molina, an Argentine right-back who Diego Simeone had been keen to sign. Departing the capital city club was Samuel Lino, the recently acquired Brazilian winger, who joined Valencia CF on loan to the delight of Los Che’s new boss Gennaro Gattuso.
