The English top flight was by far the highest-spending league in the January transfer window.
Carlo Ancelotti admits other European clubs are struggling to match their Premier League rivals in the transfer market.
Chelsea broke the English top-flight’s transfer record with a £106.8m move for Enzo Fernandez. But that wasn’t the only big-money move to the Premier League this winter.
English sides spent a record-breaking £800m in the January transfer window, outspending other top European leagues. But Ancelotti insists other sides will still keep competing with their English rivals in European competitions.
“We know what happens there,” he said. “With the television rights, they can spend higher amounts. It will continue like this.
“Europe will follow the Premier League, it gives them an advantage.
“Even so, the competition against them, in Europe, it will not end.”
Real Madrid spent a quiet transfer window despite struggling with squad depth in their backline. Following Ferland Mendy‘s injury, the Blancos hoped to add Rayo Vallecano’s Fran García to their ranks. But the left-back won’t arrive at Santiago Bernabeu, at least until the next summer.
Ancelotti’s side are still competing in four competitions, with the manager admitting the congested schedule is a “serious issue”.
“We’re in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey, the last 16 of the Champions League and the Club World Cup,” the Italian boss added. “We don’t throw away competitions.
“It is a [tough] calendar. LaLiga wants to do its thing, FIFA wants to do its thing, UEFA wants to do its thing. It doesn’t let us have days off.
“The calendar is a very serious issue. We are excited to fight in all these competitions, but the calendar limit is being exceeded. We have to do something to avoid this.”
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