Senegal midfielder Pathé Ciss has refused to train with Rayo Vallecano as he attempts to force a move away from the Spanish club before the end of the transfer window.
The 32-year-old has one year remaining on his contract and is understood to have told Rayo’s management that he wants to leave after five years with the club.
Ciss refused to take part in training on Monday, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, escalating the disagreement between the Senegal international and his club.
Rayo Vallecano are demanding €10m for the midfielder, matching the value of his release clause. That figure has proved a stumbling block for clubs interested in signing him.
The Senegalese player is being monitored by Turkish side Besiktas, Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab and a Spanish team that has qualified for European competition.
Ciss, who can operate as a central or defensive midfielder, is seeking a fresh challenge after what he considers to be the end of his time at Rayo.
The dispute comes with only eight days remaining before the transfer window closes in Europe’s five major leagues, leaving limited time for the two sides to find a solution.
Ciss is currently one of Rayo’s most experienced players and has already featured twice this season, starting both matches and playing the full 180 minutes.
That importance to the squad helps explain Rayo’s reluctance to allow him to leave, particularly with the club unwilling to consider offers below his €10m release clause.
The asking price is significantly higher than Ciss’s estimated market value. Transfermarkt values the Senegalese midfielder at €1.8m, meaning Rayo’s demand is almost ten times that figure.
For Ciss, however, the current disagreement is not the first time his plans to leave the club have been blocked.
In 2023, two years after joining Rayo from Fuenlabrada, the club prevented him from moving to Lyon despite the transfer having reportedly reached an advanced stage.
Rayo have also previously resisted interest from several clubs in Spain and abroad, including Valencia, Celta, Valladolid, Girona, Metz, Al Arabi, Lens, Stuttgart, Adana Demirspor and Al-Shabab.
The repeated difficulty in securing a departure has now contributed to the latest stand-off between the player and the club.
Ciss joined Rayo after moving from Fuenlabrada and has since become an important part of the side. His versatility in midfield has made him a regular option for the Spanish club.
The Senegal international’s profile has also remained prominent at national-team level. He has won 34 caps for Senegal and was part of the country’s squad at the 2026 World Cup, where the Lions of Teranga reached the round of 32.
His current situation leaves both the player and Rayo facing a race against time.
