Celta's January Clear-out: Three Players Up for Grabs
Celta Vigo looking to trim bloated 28-man squad with Damián, Cervi and Marc Vidal all on the transfer list as club prepares for second half of season.
Celta Vigo’s Winter Window Shopping List
With a squad that’s bursting at the seams, Celta Vigo are keen to offload a few faces this January to trim their 28-man roster down to something more manageable.
The Galician outfit are juggling both La Liga and Europa League commitments, but even with that double workload, several players are finding themselves well and truly frozen out. The club has now identified three players they’re looking to shift when the transfer window opens.
Academy Product Damián Needs Minutes
Despite being a player Claudio Giráldez has previously backed, homegrown midfielder Damián finds himself on the chopping block - albeit for his own development’s sake. The club still rates him highly but believes he needs regular football that he simply isn’t getting at Balaídos.
The numbers tell the story:
- Just 2 La Liga appearances this season
- 3 Europa League run-outs
- 1 Copa del Rey match (with a goal to his name)
- A grand total of 377 minutes across all competitions
This is a case of “if you love something, set it free” - with Celta hoping a loan move might be the making of the young talent.
Cervi and Vidal: Surplus to Requirements
The situations for Franco Cervi and Marc Vidal are far less nuanced - they’re simply not wanted.
Argentine winger Cervi, whose contract expires in June, has been limited to just 12 minutes in the Europa League and 153 minutes across two Copa matches. He hasn’t kicked a ball in La Liga all season, though reports suggest he’s in no rush to leave his Vigo comfort zone despite his bench-warming status.
Goalkeeper Marc Vidal has the dubious honor of being the only first-team player yet to make a single appearance this season. With Vicente Radu firmly established as number one, Iván Villar as backup, and three more keepers in the B team, Vidal is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Aidoo Still in the Picture
Interestingly, Ghanaian defender Joseph Aidoo isn’t being actively shopped despite minimal playing time. The club believes he could still play a role in the second half of the season, having featured in just four matches (two in La Liga, two in Copa) and not being registered for European competition.
While Celta aren’t desperate to bring players in during January, freeing up squad spaces and wages could provide flexibility should an opportunity arise. For now though, it’s operation clear-out at Balaídos.