After a difficult start to the season, Sevilla shook things up in the January transfer window.
One of the most notable names was that of Pape Gueye, on a short loan deal from Marseille. Making his debut at Camp Nou and providing a crucial assist for the opener in the 2-0 victory against Mallorca, Gueye is already making his mark on the team. Veteran team-mate Fernando has praised his humility, and attentiveness to others.
While the logical choice would be to include their new game-changing signing in the squad for the Europa League, Sevilla have found themselves unable to do so.
UEFA only allows three changes to squads for European competitions after the winter break, and Sevilla brought in four new signings, Loïc Badé, Lucas Ocampos, Gueye, and Bryan Gil; of which the Senegalese international was the last to arrive.
Initially, Sevilla managed to get around the issue by registering Bryan Gil under an academy licence, since he rose up through the team’s youth system. Nevertheless, the untimely departure of Isco threw another spanner in the works. UEFA also requires each squad list to contain at least four players that are eligible to play for the club’s national team, so in this case Spain.
The departure of the ex-Madrid star left only three Spanish players: Joan Jordán, Rafa Mir, and Suso. This then required the emergency incorporation of Óliver Torres, who used up the last spot in the squad, thus leaving Papa Gueye out.
Nicolás Antúnez de Mayolo | GSFN
