Dépor finally land their man as Riki Rodríguez joins from Albacete
Antonio Hidalgo secures his coveted midfield '8' as Deportivo complete transfer saga for Asturian midfielder Riki Rodríguez from Albacete on deadline day.
Deportivo La Coruña have finally got their hands on the midfield orchestrator that gaffer Antonio Hidalgo has been desperate for all January window.
After a proper saga that’s dragged on since New Year’s Day, the Galician outfit have secured the services of Asturian midfielder Riki Rodríguez from Albacete Balompié, with the deal crossing the line just as the transfer window was about to slam shut.
Deadline day drama
The transfer had more twists and turns than a Spanish telenovela. While Dépor had already sorted an agreement for Rodríguez to join in the summer, they were keen to get the deal done sharpish. The Coruña club wanted their man now rather than later, and they’ve managed to pull it off at the eleventh hour.
What made this deal particularly interesting is that Rodríguez could now line up against his former employers this weekend - talk about timing! The player himself never made any bones about his desire to swap Albacete for A Coruña, making his intentions crystal clear to the Albacete top brass.
Breaking the bank
To get this one over the line, Deportivo have had to splash some serious cash:
- Transfer fee approaching 300,000 euros
- Payment structure agreed in installments
- Deal finally brokered by Massimo Benassi, Dépor’s general director
This represents a significant investment for a Segunda División side, showing just how much Hidalgo values getting the right player in the middle of the park.
Filling the gap
Rodríguez’s arrival addresses a glaring weakness in the Galician side’s midfield. The number 8 position has been a proper headache for Hidalgo, and the Asturian’s skillset should provide exactly what they’ve been missing in the engine room.
Meanwhile, Albacete have been busy with outgoings of their own, with Dani Escriche heading off to Cypriot outfit Apollon Limassol and Jon García likely bound for Real Murcia.
For Dépor fans, this signing will feel like they’ve finally got their dog and bone after weeks of waiting. Now it’s up to Rodríguez to prove he’s worth every penny as they push on in the second half of the season.