Rayo Vallecano has signed Raúl de Tomás after one of the most eventful negotiations of the summer.
After an episode that ended up at the police station, due to a complaint by the president of Rayo, Martín Presa, who accused the player's agents of assaulting him and causing him injuries, the Madrid club will pay eight million euros to Espanyol, which in 2019 paid more than 20 million Benfica for the transfer.
The devaluation is colossal.
Outside the open period for the summer market, which closed two weeks ago, the incorporation will not be effective until January, when the League registration period opens.
Diego Martínez, coach of Espanyol, announced to the club at the beginning of the preseason that he did not have the striker because he did not adapt to the defensive demands of his game model.
De Tomás, scorer for the Catalan team with 45 goals in 89 games over the last two seasons, was not willing to press after losing the ball, a non-negotiable circumstance for his coach.
A youth squad for Madrid, a club where he always felt capable of playing, De Tomás, 27, made his way to professionalism in Vallecas.
He played for Rayo between 2017 and 2019, scoring 38 goals in 66 games, and acquired enough prestige to attract the attention of Benfica, where he continued his career.
His return to Vallecas, where he will not be able to play until January, closes a strange circle.
You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on
and
, or sign up here to receive
our weekly newsletter
.