Real Betis Balompié has contacted Benfica to inquire about the situation of Croatian striker Franco Ivanovic. According to Italian journalist Lorenzo Lepore, the club has requested the loan with an option to buy the player, who will not continue at the Lisbon club. The Turkish club Galatasaray is also interested in the player.
Real Betis is looking for a striker in the market to strengthen the squad, since after the departures of Chimy Avila and Bakambu, Manuel Pellegrini only has Cucho Hernández, who is on vacation, and during the entire pre-season has been trying out Colombian player Nelson Deossa as a striker, despite being a midfielder and being on the verge of being transferred, as the Chilean coach did not count on him last season.
Franco Ivanovic arrived at Benfica last summer from Union Saint Gilloise in Belgium and signed a contract with the Portuguese club until 2030, and cost 22.8 million euros, plus five million in variables, according to a statement by Benfica to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM).
Franco Ivanovic (Schwaz, Austria) began his career in Germany, in the lower categories of FC Augsburg, passed through the ranks of Croatian HNK Rijeka and the 2024/25 season was key in the conquest of the Belgian League by Union St. Gilloise, with whom he played a total of 56 games and scored 24 goals, giving 9 assists in 4,285 minutes of play.
This past season at Benfica has played 43 games, scoring 9 goals and giving 3 assists, in 1,513 minutes. It has not been a good campaign for the Croatian striker, which cost him to be left out of the World Cup squad.
Real Betis, who is currently in fifth place in the league, with 46 points and a +7 goal difference, is looking to strengthen their squad for the next season.
