Senegalese midfielder Pathé Ciss has launched an open battle to leave Rayo Vallecano. The player refused to train with the rest of the squad on Monday in a clear attempt to force an exit from the Madrid club.
The situation unfolds as Rayo Vallecano sits 14th in La Liga, with just one point from their first two games. The team has scored two goals and conceded three, and faces a tough trip to the Camp Nou to play Barcelona next. Forward Álvaro García is the team's top scorer in this early season.
Why does Pathé Ciss want to leave?
Pathé Ciss, 31, believes his time at Rayo Vallecano is over. The footballer feels worn out after five seasons at Vallecas and has repeatedly communicated his desire for a new challenge. His contract with the club runs until 2027, but the player considers now the right time to move on.
Rayo, however, has not shown a clear willingness to listen to offers for him this summer. The club is holding firm to the player's release clause, set at 10 million euros, and does not want to allow a departure unless offers reach that figure. This standoff has led to the player's drastic measure of skipping training sessions.
Which clubs are interested in him?
Several clubs have shown interest in Pathé Ciss in recent weeks. A Spanish side that will play European competition this season is very interested. Turkish club Besiktas and Saudi Arabian side Al Shabab have also been linked.
But this interest is not new. In January 2023, the player had everything agreed to join Olympique Lyon, but Rayo blocked the move at the last minute. Over recent years, the Senegalese international has received offers from Valencia, Celta, Valladolid, Girona, Metz, Qatar's Al Arabi, Lens, Stuttgart, and Adana Demirspor. None of those offers reached the 10 million euros Rayo now demands, so all were rejected.
What has Ciss's trajectory at Rayo been?
Pathé Ciss joined Rayo Vallecano in 2021 and since then has become a fundamental piece. He has played 179 official matches for the red-and-white striped shirt, being one of the most used players in recent years. His versatility has been an added value, playing not only in midfield but also as a centre-back in emergency situations.
His importance to the team is reflected in his contract renewal in 2024, an extension the club did not officially announce. In that agreement, his release clause was reduced from 50 to 10 million euros with the aim of facilitating a future sale. In return, Rayo secured financial compensation for a player who could have left for free in 2025. The club still values his career, physicality, and ability to compete in different contexts, as detailed on our squad page.
What happens next with the transfer?
The confrontation is now open. Pathé Ciss wants to leave and Rayo Vallecano points to his 10 million euro clause. Interested clubs must decide in the coming days whether to take the definitive step and present an offer that satisfies the Vallecas outfit.
Meanwhile, the team must prepare for its visit to Barcelona on August 31st, a key match in their league fixture list. Ciss's departure, if it materializes, would leave a significant gap in the centre of the park. The immediate future of the Senegalese and the response of the transfer market will mark the final days of summer for a board looking to strengthen a team currently five points behind leaders Sevilla. Resolving this internal conflict is a priority for dressing room stability before the market closes.
