The summer window of La Liga always has the magic of "last second"

On September 1st every year, when the bell is approaching 23:59, the major clubs in La Liga seem to enter a "crazy mode". You think everything is settled, and as a fax and a termination fee can instantly rewrite the whole season's pattern. Fans have long been used to it: Don’t rush to sleep, the transfer market drama will always end until the last minute.

From Real Madrid to Barcelona, ​​from Atletico Madrid to Betis, La Liga's buzzer-between years have not only left behind classic names, but also become a topic of conversation for fans after dinner.

In 2002, Ronaldo landed at the Bernabeu. That year, the "Alien" who had just won the title of king in the Japan-Korea World Cup was officially announced to join by Real Madrid at the last moment of the summer window. Many people are still questioning his injury history, but they scored twice in their debut, instantly conquering the Bernabeu. That scene still makes people feel goosebumps. This buzzer-beating transfer not only made another expansion of the Galaxy Battleship, but also symbolized Real Madrid's ultimate desire for superstars in that era. In 2005, Ramos came. At the last moment on September 1, Real Madrid directly paid the termination fee to take him away from Sevilla. At that time, the outside world was more surprised: Is a young defender worth the price? The answer is, it's worth it. Many years later, Ramos became synonymous with Real Madrid's spirit, and his name is always tied to the team's reversal, championship, and blood. The buzzer-beating contract has become one of the club's most correct decisions.

Bell in 2013 pushed the drama of buzzer-beating to the pinnacle. For the whole summer, global media have been tracking "whether Real Madrid can win Bale." It was delayed until September 1st and the official news finally came to fruition. Wearing Real Madrid's jersey, Wales not only set a new record for transfer fees at the time, but also scored with a top scorer in the Cup of del Rey and a key goal in the Champions League final, proving that he deserves this big bet. This is a typical Real Madrid buzzer-beater: expensive, but effective.

In 2014, the loan of "Little Pea" Hernandez was more like a timely replenishment of blood. The deal was completed on the last day, and although he was not the absolute core, he returned the team with goals on multiple key occasions. For Real Madrid, this seemingly inconspicuous buzzer-beating contract can often bring unexpected gains.

Atletico Madrid also has its own buzzer-beating story. In 2021, Griezmann is back. He returned to Calderon on loan when everyone thought the deal would not happen. As soon as the news came out, the whole of Madrid was in full bloom. Although his performance was ups and downs afterwards, the surprise that night was definitely the highlight of the transfer market. The "crazy office" moment of Barcelona happened in 2023. That day, the Red and Blue Army finalized three operations in one go: rent Felix and Cancelo, and send Eric Garcia away. These three buzzer-beating units are almost a microcosm of Barcelona's senior executives' "staying up late and working overtime". The fans were guarding in front of their phones that day, and they didn't dare to blink at all, for fear of missing any official announcement.

Also on the buzzer-beating day, Barcelona also welcomed the old youth training player Bellerin. In 2022, when he returned to Camp Nou as free, he had a bit of "fallen leaves return to their roots". Although it did not cause too much splash, this operation can always touch the emotions of the fans.

In 2024, it will be Betis and Real Sociedad's turn to steal the spotlight. Lo Celso's return to Betis is a legend of the reunion of the old players; Oscarsson joins Real Sociedad and becomes one of the most expensive signings in the team's history. For such clubs, signing a buzzer-beating contract is not only a reinforcement, but also a "explain to fans".

Some people say that buzzer-beating transfers are risky. That’s right, time is limited and preparation is hasty, and the risks are very high. But the charm of football lies in this "accident". If Ronaldo in 2002, would Real Madrid's Galaxy Battleship still be so brilliant? If Ramos did not have 2005, would the Iron Blood Legend of the Defence be written in another person? Without Griezmann's return in 2021, can Atletico Madrid maintain cohesion that year?

La Liga proved again and again: September 1 is never the end, but another beginning. When the fax machine roars, when the senior executives stay awake all night, and when fans swipe their phones to wait for news, the unique drama of this league is also being staged simultaneously.

So, on the end of this year's summer window, do you dare to turn off the screen in advance?