Two in, two out - so far

Transfer season has started early at the Coliseum this year, with four changes already having taken place before June begins.

Out

Captain Manu del Moral has finally left Getafe after five years in Madrid, heading back to his native Andalucia with Sevilla. The fee is rumoured to be around €4.5m - a price more than fair for one whose contract was fast expiring. El capitán will be much-missed in the dressing room and by the fans, too, because even during moments of poor form his spirit and positive attitude never wavered.

Juan Ángel Albín is a trickier one. The young Uruguayan had sufficient talent to be linked with AC Milan last summer, but instead he finds himself as Espanyol. I had originally thought him out of contract, but in fact he had a year left and thus the Perequitos have had to shell out €3m for his services. That's a considerable sum for a player who, despite his natural abilities, never really came out of his shell at the Coliseum. For me this is a fine piece of business: even if he goes on to be the player we think he can be it's still best to cash in rather than take the risk. Juan leaves after spending, like Manu, five years in the blue shirt.

In

First to come is Mehdi Lacen. The France-born Algerian international has signed on for four years with Geta, bringing to an end three years with Racing Santander. The 27-year-old defensive midfielder has spent virtually his entire career in Spain, having previously served Alavés for three years.

His arrival signals - at least according to Marca - the end to Derek Boateng's time at the Coliseum. It is thought that club president Ángel Torres is ready to sell the Ghanaian to the highest bidder, most likely a member of the Premier League. That will be a massive blow for next season: Boateng was the most composed player in the squad by far and while Lacen is not a bad player his skills on the ball do not match those of the former AIK man.

Allegedly already signed is Diego Castro, an exciting winger-cum-forward last of Sporting Gijón. This one isn't 100% confirmed yet, but the Galician wide man will likely take up a position on the left flank, from which his specialty is to cut inside and score goals.

Still to come?

Long before Deportivo slumped towards relegation, much of their out-of-contract contingent had been linked with a switch to the capital. Chief among these was Alberto Lopo. The dependable centre-back would make a fine partner for either Mario or Cata Díaz and is thought to be inches away from officially signing on for Getafe.

In midfield Juan Rodríguez is another candidate for the central role currently occupied by Derek Boateng: , and while Rodríguez has plenty of experience and drive he lacks the class of the former AIK man. Anontio Tomás, Rodríguez's sometime-partner and often-understudy at the Riazor, is another player who could yet join Getafe from the Galicians. Seemingly we can never have too many defensive midfielders...

Also, sporting director Toni Múñoz has extended his deal, with coach Míchel's future hanging in the balance. Torres and Múñoz will meet to discuss the ex-Real Madrid man's future over the coming days.

Update: Míchel is gone, and Luis Enrique will not be taking over. Luis García of Levante is the front-runner.

Getafe 1-1 Atlético Madrid: Geta can't hold their nerve in Madrid derby

1-0 Manu del Moral 3'
1-1 Elías 81'

Early lead not enough as Geta make it four without a win...
... Fine start canceled out by late concession...

Getafe shared the points with near-neighbours Atlético Madrid in Wednesday's city derby, with one goal apiece securing the draw.

Overall this was a less than encouraging match for fans of both sides. Neither club is currently firing on all cylinders and this was painfully evident at the Coliseum.

Still, it was perhaps inevitable that Manu del Moral would provide one of the rare moments of excitement. The former Atleti man, linked with a return to the Vicente Calderón, opened the scoring after just three minutes with a fine chip from the edge of the box over the helpless David De Gea.

The Colchoneros attempted to put the pressure on but Geta enjoyed the best of the first half, the interplay between Manu and Miku creating one chance that the former failed to bury in the 26th minute. Shortly afterward home left-back Mané was removed due to injury.

José Antonio Reyes almost equalised on the stroke of the interval, and this was a taste of things to come as the visitors improved in the second period.

They eventually got what they were looking for nine minutes from time when Elías netted his first goal for the club with a header from ten yards following Diego Forlán's cross. For Getafe this was the third late goal shipped in four games.

Dani Parejo was denied a dramatic winner by David De Gea as the clock ran down.

Atleti remain two points above Getafe on 35. The Azulones face a trip to struggling Sporting Gijón on Sunday as they attempt to wrap up safety from relegation early.

Getafe: Codina; Miguel Torres, Cata Díaz, Rafa, Mané (Marcano 30); Manu, Víctor Sánchez (Boateng 65), Parejo, Gavilán; Colunga (Casquero 77), Miku. Atlético: De Gea; Valera, Perea, Godín, Antonio López; Reyes, Raúl García (Mario Suárez 63), Tiago (Juanfran 82), Koke (Elías 66); Forlán, Agüero.

Manu del Moral agrees terms with Atlético Madrid, says Marca

Getafe skipper Manu del Moral could be on his way back to his boyhood club, according to Radio Marca.

The 26-year-old arrived at Getafe from Atleti in 2006 and since then has established himself as a key player at the Coliseum.

However, Radio Marca reporter Alfredo Dura claims that the Azulones would not stand in the way of Manu's move back across the Manzanares to Atleti, providing that the transfer fee is correct.

With Manu under contract until the summer of 2012, a price tag in the low millions is not out of the question, now that terms have apparently been agreed upon between new club and player.

While the absence of a popular and versatile attacker will dent Getafe's hopes for the season, there is at least the possibility that the money received for Manu - combined with that for summer departures Roberto Soldado and Pedro León - may be re-invested in the squad for next season.

Barcelona 1-1 Getafe

A stunning goal from Manu early on at Camp Nou put Getafe on course for an historic result against Barcelona, and although the match ended in a draw it was still an impressive point to gain, and one that ends Barça's nine-game winning run.

Manu del Moral's goal was a peach - a curling, swerving piece of excellence after an error from Gerard Piqué. Seydou Keita's equaliser, meanwhile, was an opportunistic but probably merited goal after a sweet cross from Alves (who, by the way, was left unmarked by Rafa - inexplicably placed on the left at the expense of Licht.)

In the end it was a deserved draw, even though we rode our luck towards the end.

Geta finish the weekend in 14th on 14 points. Depending on how Athletic get on we'll be either three or four points clear of the drop.

Video of the goal will be up when available.

New Kits Released; Transfer Round-Up

Getafe have released their new strips, which you can see in this short video:



I am personally not a huge fan of the red flashes on the home kit, but the third kit (the black one) is quite attractive.

What the video does not show too well is that the small red rectangle on the back of the neck is in fact the flag of the Community of Madrid:

So, that's nice.

On the incoming transfer front, Roberto Soldado remains a serious target but Real Madrid have upped the ante a bit by summoning him to Austria for their pre-season training camp - it's not thought that they are desperate to keep him, but this is a clear show of strength against Geta's offers. Jaime Gavilán, a definite arrival, has penned a four-year deal. Granero, having signed and sealed his deal, is still pining for a return to Madrid in the future. (Who can blame him?)

Outgoing are Pablo Redondo, who joins Nastic, Nacho, who is loaned to Málaga, and quite possibly Manu del Moral, whom Mallorca are sniffing around.