Real Betis Balompié will welcome Álvaro Fidalgo next week, as the Asturian ends his vacation and joins the pre‑season ‘stage’ in Marbella. The player, fresh from the World Cup with Mexico, will be one of the last pieces manager Manuel Pellegrini adds before the scheduled friendlies.

What does his return mean for Betis?

Fidalgo arrived in the winter transfer window from América de México and has already featured in 13 official matches, scoring once. His goal is to add muscle mass to meet LaLiga’s physical demands after five years in Mexican football. With his arrival, Pellegrini will have more rotation options, especially ahead of the Champions League.

How does he fit into the pre‑season plan?

The Marbella ‘stage’ is set to start in early August, with two friendly matches on the schedule. Fidalgo’s return follows Abde’s comeback, who is already training at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol. With Fidalgo, Betis will complete its squad before Cucho Hernández and Giovani Lo Celso, the two remaining internationals, join.

What does his World Cup experience bring?

During the World Cup, Fidalgo scored against the Czech Republic and played three games, reaching the round of 16 before losing to England. That international exposure gives him tactical maturity and a competitive mindset, qualities Pellegrini values for league and European challenges.

What is Betis’ current LaLiga standing?

The side sits fifth in LaLiga with 60 points, recording 15 wins, 15 draws and 8 losses from 38 games, and a recent form of WLWDW. With 59 goals scored and 48 conceded, Betis holds a +11 goal difference, yet remains 34 points behind leaders Barcelona.

What comes after Marbella?

After the ‘stage’ ends, Betis will face rivals in the friendlies and soon kick off the league campaign. Fidalgo’s presence in training will allow the coach to fine‑tune tactics and decide the final lineup for the season’s opening matches.