Three weeks after "the opening of the transfer market," La Liga clubs have spent a total of €262M ($354M), according to José Luis López of MUNDO DEPORTIVO. With a "month-and-a-half remaining, the figure could increase considerably." La Liga, however, remains "far behind the quantity spent in the Premier League," where clubs have already invested more than €450M ($608M). To date, the "king of summer" is Barcelona, which has spent €126M ($170M), with €84M ($114M) going to Luis Suárez. Barcleona's lead "will only be threatened by Real Madrid." By the end of the period, Real "could once again" break the €100M ($135M) mark. Barcelona and Real, along with defending La Liga champion Atlético, have accounted for 80% of the spending -- €210M ($284M) of the €262M total. Spain's top flight is a "league of two (or three) speeds, and this is also evident in the transfer market." As many as eight clubs "have reinforced their rosters without spending a euro." Those teams have done so with "free agents or players on loan" (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 7/21).
