Almería hit out over Carlos Martín deal validation issue

Utter disbelief at UD Almería after the failed signing of Carlos Martín. The deal was considered closed between clubs and player around 18:00, but once midnight passed the striker did not appear registered on LaLiga’s portal. According to MARCA, the mood inside the Andalusians is extremely tense because they felt there was enough time for the paperwork to be properly completed.

Paperwork and the final lock

Atlético’s version is that the documentation was sent on time, although they say they still don’t have proof of the exact hour. LaLiga, meanwhile, told Almería it couldn’t validate the transaction in time. Where the disagreement really bites is Almería’s claim that they were never given the option to ratify the deal, because the portal never showed up for them to confirm. In short: they insist they bear no responsibility and that they are the ones harmed by the breakdown in the process, as described by MARCA.

Almería asks for answers

Almería explains that the validation workflow requires the player’s club (in this case Atlético) to start the process and upload the paperwork correctly. Then LaLiga must validate it so the signing appears on the destination club’s site, allowing the final ratification. The Almería argument is that the last step never happened because one of the earlier steps failed.

The Monte comparison

The club also points to a comparison they say supports their case: the Nelson Monte exit. That operation was finalised roughly two hours after Martín’s, but Monte did not give the go-ahead until 23:00. Still, Almería insists they managed to start the process in time for LaLiga to validate it, with Córdoba completing the sign-off last. They add that in that case the loan entry did reach LaLiga and the defender showed up minutes after the deadline.

For today, Almería plan to gather more information and request an explanation from LaLiga, since the platform locks automatically once the window closes. In the club, hope to fix it is low, and the anger is directed at Atlético for leaving them without a forward at the last moment, according to MARCA.