The Granada-Malaga rivalry which saw Viberti go to Malaga because of 200,000 pesetas

The younger generation may not know about the rivalry between Malaga and Granada. Sevilla has become a big rival for both sides as Malaga and Granada have not meant too frequently in recent times, especially when Malaga were in La Liga and Granada were in the lower leagues. The fact they are close geographically is usually enough reason for a derby and a rivalry to prosper. But in this case, tense matches for promotion, fights for survival and the odd relegation has made this rivalry more intense.

In the 70s, the encounter between Malaga and Granada became more important with Ben Barek the standout figure. 'El Pajarito' played for both teams and he was close to witnessing how another Malaga legend would follow his steps. In 1969, Viberti went to the Costa del Sol to try and get in the Malaga side. To try him out, a training game was organised against Granada and according to 'El Desmarque', he delighted both the coach Kalmar and the president Rodriguez Lopez.

They did not think twice and they wanted to sign the footballer immediately, who was close to not doing it precisely because of the opponent in the training game. Granada tried their best to get hold of the player who astonished everyone. He even managed to talk to 'Pipo' Rossi, the Granada manager. The Granada manager knew the number '5' from his time in Argentina and wanted to sign him for a famous team at that time. According to 'Adios a Los Carmenes', Rossi asked Viberti not to sign for Malaga.

Finally, and after the intervention of the Malaga president, who met with the player in a hotel to make sure everything was under control, a difference of 200,000 pesetas saw one of Malaga's legends not go to Granada, the arch rival at that moment in time.