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From the team that started under Jesualdo Ferreira last season, only Jesus Gamez and Salomon Rondon are likely to retain their spots, as the revolution bears fruit. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero arrived in February on an emergency deal after Sergio Asenjo suffered a serious knee injury. He performed well in the run-in, and with Asenjo returning to Atletico Madrid, the Argentine is the current No. 1 - although another custodian being added before August's end cannot be ruled out.
Across the back four, captain Gamez will remain on the right, with former Osasuna wide man Monreal slotting in on the left. The Spain international is a real talent, and will prove a useful outlet in opposition territory with his enterprising approach. The center finds experience in the form of Netherlands' World Cup stopper Joris Mathijsen and the Argentine Martin Demichelis, both of whom have featured at the very highest level for both club and country.
The further you travel through the team, the more exciting the prospect of watching some of the revered individuals on show. Joaquin was a loyal servant to firstly Real Betis and then Valencia, and at 29 years old still has plenty to offer. On the opposite side, the roving Cazorla needs little introduction; one of the undisputed stars of the 2010-11 La Liga season, the versatile schemer is of a creative quality that pushes this Malaga side onto the next level. Centrally, Toulalan is a former Lyon captain and France regular. Baptista, whose stunning run of goals in the second half of the campaign kept the team in the top flight, could be employed as an advanced midfielder, bursting into the area to provide another offensive option.
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Santi signs | Arrival of Cazorla is a genuinely world class addition to the Malaga project
In attack, there is the perfect mix of youthful exuberance and canny positional sense from a seasoned veteran. Ruud van Nistelrooy is the finest penalty-box finisher of his generation, and despite some injury problems in recent times, if he can perform regularly, he guarantees goals in a league where he proved wonderfully prolific previously with Real Madrid. Alongside him, Rondon is fresh from an impressive outing at the Copa America with Venezuela, and seems to improve with each passing month. He is the archetypal modern-day attacker; powerful, quick, has an explosive shot, and will provide the legwork as Van Nistelrooy sniffs out an opening.
Of those in reserve, Diego Buonanotte is a more than able replacement in midfield, one who has skill in abundance. Ignacio Camacho arrived from Atletico Madrid in January, and is an extremely highly-regarded central player, while 20-year-old Recio enjoyed his fair share of minutes in 2010-11 and much is expected of him. Beyond that trio, Eliseu, Duda and Apono have all been loyal servants to the club but have unquestionably been usurped by a significant increase in quality.
Former Sevilla stopper Sergio Sanchez and Weligton will offer defensive cover, while further forward exciting duo Isco and Juanmi will challenge those ahead of them in the pecking order, highlighting that Malaga has invested in prodigious potential as well as blue-chip buys.
Overall, La Liga remains a case of 18 clubs versus Real Madrid and Barcelona. Of the established European challengers, Cazorla's switch noticeably weakens Villarreal, who will also do well to retain Giuseppe Rossi before the window's end. Atletico Madrid has said its goodbyes to the jewel in its crown, with Sergio Aguero having joined Manchester City, while Sevilla's signings have failed to inspire. Therefore, an ensemble such as this should be more than capable of reaching the Europa League, and, with a positive start, who is to say that the Boquerones won't be mingling with the continent's elite in 2012-13?
ANALYSIS
By Paul Macdonald
Proceedings took a further upturn with the major coup of Joaquin from Valencia, plus the highly-rated Isco from the Mestalla club's youth squad. However, the signature of Santi Cazorla from Champions League competitors Villarreal is unquestionably the deal that will make La Liga, and indeed the rest of Europe, consider how far the Boquerones can go this season, and indeed in years to come.
Sheikh Al Thani's project is fast and all-encompassing in the region; his transformation of the football team is merely an element of his grand plan to reinvigorate the region as a whole. But it is the brand new, action-packed starting XI that has whipped the locals into a frenzy, with fireworks whizzing and fans flocking to bear witness to the unveiling of each impressive arrival.
But when business begins in just under a month's time, what can Manuel Pellegrini's men realistically expect to achieve this season, given Barcelona and Real Madrid's relentless duopoly? Is European football the base, Champions League a bonus, and a title challenge the stuff of dreams?
Goal.com assesses how they are likely to line up based on their transactions so far this summer.
GOALKEEPER
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Willy Caballero
By Paul Macdonald
Malaga's sensational summer of spending shows no sign of stalling. The arrivals of renowned names such as Ruud van Nistelrooy, Jeremy Toulalan and Diego Buonanotte signalled the intention of the Qatari owner, Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani, to take the Andalusian club in a new direction.
Proceedings took a further upturn with the major coup of Joaquin from Valencia, plus the highly-rated Isco from the Mestalla club's youth squad. However, the signature of Santi Cazorla from Champions League competitors Villarreal is unquestionably the deal that will make La Liga, and indeed the rest of Europe, consider how far the Boquerones can go this season, and indeed in years to come.
Sheikh Al Thani's project is fast and all-encompassing in the region; his transformation of the football team is merely an element of his grand plan to reinvigorate the region as a whole. But it is the brand new, action-packed starting XI that has whipped the locals into a frenzy, with fireworks whizzing and fans flocking to bear witness to the unveiling of each impressive arrival.
But when business begins in just under a month's time, what can Manuel Pellegrini's men realistically expect to achieve this season, given Barcelona and Real Madrid's relentless duopoly? Is European football the base, Champions League a bonus, and a title challenge the stuff of dreams?
Goal.com assesses how they are likely to line up based on their transactions so far this summer.
GOALKEEPER
Willy Caballero
| RIGHT-BACK | CENTER BACK | CENTER BACK | LEFT-BACK |
Jesus Gamez | Joris Mathijsen | Martin Demichelis | Nacho Monreal |
| RIGHT MIDFIELD | CENTER MIDFIELD | CENTER MIDFIELD | LEFT MIDFIELD |
Joaquin | Julio Baptista | Jeremy Toulalan | Santi Cazorla |
| CENTRE FORWARD | CENTRE FORWARD |
Ruud van Nistelrooy | Salomon Rondon |
From the team that started under Jesualdo Ferreira last season, only Jesus Gamez and Salomon Rondon are likely to retain their spots, as the revolution bears fruit. Goalkeeper Willy Caballero arrived in February on an emergency deal after Sergio Asenjo suffered a serious knee injury. He performed well in the run-in, and with Asenjo returning to Atletico Madrid, the Argentine is the current No. 1 - although another custodian being added before August's end cannot be ruled out.
Across the back four, captain Gamez will remain on the right, with former Osasuna wide man Monreal slotting in on the left. The Spain international is a real talent, and will prove a useful outlet in opposition territory with his enterprising approach. The center finds experience in the form of Netherlands' World Cup stopper Joris Mathijsen and the Argentine Martin Demichelis, both of whom have featured at the very highest level for both club and country.
The further you travel through the team, the more exciting the prospect of watching some of the revered individuals on show. Joaquin was a loyal servant to firstly Real Betis and then Valencia, and at 29 years old still has plenty to offer. On the opposite side, the roving Cazorla needs little introduction; one of the undisputed stars of the 2010-11 La Liga season, the versatile schemer is of a creative quality that pushes this Malaga side onto the next level. Centrally, Toulalan is a former Lyon captain and France regular. Baptista, whose stunning run of goals in the second half of the campaign kept the team in the top flight, could be employed as an advanced midfielder, bursting into the area to provide another offensive option.
Santi signs | Arrival of Cazorla is a genuinely world class addition to the Malaga project
In attack, there is the perfect mix of youthful exuberance and canny positional sense from a seasoned veteran. Ruud van Nistelrooy is the finest penalty-box finisher of his generation, and despite some injury problems in recent times, if he can perform regularly, he guarantees goals in a league where he proved wonderfully prolific previously with Real Madrid. Alongside him, Rondon is fresh from an impressive outing at the Copa America with Venezuela, and seems to improve with each passing month. He is the archetypal modern-day attacker; powerful, quick, has an explosive shot, and will provide the legwork as Van Nistelrooy sniffs out an opening.
Of those in reserve, Diego Buonanotte is a more than able replacement in midfield, one who has skill in abundance. Ignacio Camacho arrived from Atletico Madrid in January, and is an extremely highly-regarded central player, while 20-year-old Recio enjoyed his fair share of minutes in 2010-11 and much is expected of him. Beyond that trio, Eliseu, Duda and Apono have all been loyal servants to the club but have unquestionably been usurped by a significant increase in quality.
Former Sevilla stopper Sergio Sanchez and Weligton will offer defensive cover, while further forward exciting duo Isco and Juanmi will challenge those ahead of them in the pecking order, highlighting that Malaga has invested in prodigious potential as well as blue-chip buys.
Overall, La Liga remains a case of 18 clubs versus Real Madrid and Barcelona. Of the established European challengers, Cazorla's switch noticeably weakens Villarreal, who will also do well to retain Giuseppe Rossi before the window's end. Atletico Madrid has said its goodbyes to the jewel in its crown, with Sergio Aguero having joined Manchester City, while Sevilla's signings have failed to inspire. Therefore, an ensemble such as this should be more than capable of reaching the Europa League, and, with a positive start, who is to say that the Boquerones won't be mingling with the continent's elite in 2012-13?
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