Pathé Ciss has informed Rayo Vallecano of his desire to leave the club and join La Liga rivals Celta Vigo, according to Spanish outlet Radio Marca.
However, the Madrid side’s president, Raúl Martín Presa, remains adamant that any transfer will only occur if the player’s €10 million release clause is met in full.
The 31-year-old Senegalese international has been with Rayo since 2021, having joined from CF Fuenlabrada for a reported fee of €1 million. A regular fixture in the squad and a key component of head coach Iñigo Pérez’s plans, Ciss is nonetheless eager to make a switch this summer.
His preferred destination is Celta Vigo, who will be competing in the UEFA Europa League this season.
Ciss’s ambition to remain in Spain while stepping into European competition is reportedly a major motivation behind the proposed move.
While he is understood to be content at Rayo and maintains a positive relationship with the club, the midfielder sees this summer as the right moment to take on a new challenge.
Despite the player’s wishes, Rayo Vallecano are taking a firm stance. The club has made it clear that they are unwilling to negotiate unless Celta Vigo—or any other suitor—activates the €10 million release clause stipulated in Ciss’s contract.
The position echoes past instances in which Rayo blocked Ciss from moving elsewhere. In January 2023, a transfer to Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais collapsed at the last minute, reportedly due to the board’s refusal to approve the deal.
Interest in Ciss this summer has not been limited to Celta. Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab also held discussions with the player, further agitating Rayo’s top brass. President Martín Presa publicly criticised the approach, stating that no direct negotiations had taken place with the Spanish club.
“Al-Shabab did not negotiate with us for the signing of Pathé Ciss,” Presa said. “Any club wishing to negotiate for a player under contract must first speak with us. No offers or talks with agents are permitted without our consent.”
He issued a warning to all parties, including agents and interested clubs: “If negotiations with our player take place without our knowledge, we will immediately file a formal complaint with FIFA. Sanctions will be pursued against the offending club and any agent involved.”
The message from Vallecas is clear—Ciss will only be allowed to leave if the release clause is paid in full. For now, that puts the ball firmly in Celta Vigo’s court. It remains to be seen whether the Galician club is prepared to meet Rayo’s valuation or whether Ciss will once again see a proposed move fall through due to off-field resistance.
For the player, whose journey has included spells at União Madeira and the famed Diambars FC in Senegal, the coming weeks could prove pivotal. With the transfer window open and Ciss reportedly determined to make the switch, the situation is likely to unfold further as the deadline approaches.
