Pathe Ciss and Rayo Vallecano locked in transfer dispute

Pathe Ciss has refused to take part in Rayo Vallecano’s team training as he attempts to force a move away from the Spanish club this summer.

The 32-year-old midfielder, whose contract has one year remaining, did not join the squad’s collective session on Monday, 24 August, according to journalist Pablo Villa.

Ciss has been with Rayo Vallecano since 2021 but now wants a change of club. The Senegal international is understood to be unhappy with the way the Madrid-based side have handled transfer opportunities involving him, believing the club have not shown enough willingness to consider offers.

His decision to miss training comes as interest in the midfielder continues to grow in the transfer market.

Turkish club Besiktas and Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab are among the teams monitoring the situation. However, Ciss reportedly believes Rayo Vallecano’s management are deliberately holding up negotiations and have declined to examine proposals submitted by the two clubs.

Rayo Vallecano maintain a firm position and have shown no indication that they are prepared to soften their stance. The club do not want to make it easier for their central midfielder to leave and are demanding the full payment of his release clause, which is set at €10m.

That figure has created a significant obstacle in the negotiations. Ciss, who was born in Dakar, is seeking a departure, while Rayo Vallecano continue to insist on their financial terms before allowing him to move on.

The player is currently valued at €1.8m. His annual salary is reported to be €150,000, equivalent to 97,500,000 CFA francs.

Ciss’s stand-off with the club comes shortly before Rayo Vallecano’s next Spanish league fixture. The Madrid side are due to face Barcelona in their third match of the season.

The match has also attracted attention from the betting market. 1xBet lists Rayo Vallecano at odds of 13.00 to win, with a draw priced at 6.00 and victory for Barcelona rated at 1.20.

For now, Ciss’s immediate future remains unresolved. The midfielder wants to leave after four years at Rayo Vallecano, while the club’s demand for his €10m release clause leaves the two sides far apart. His refusal to train has increased the pressure around the dispute, but there is no indication yet that the club are ready to change their position or accept a lower fee.