Real Betis Balompié have transferred homegrown attacker Pablo García to Racing de Santander in a move laden with emotion for the 20-year-old. The deal, completed near the transfer deadline, sees the Verdiblancos receive €5.5 million for 50% of the player's rights.
Betis, currently 7th in La Liga with 6 points from three matches, now face a tough home fixture against Real Madrid on Friday, 4 September. The team has scored 4 goals and conceded 5 this season, sitting 3 points behind leaders Barcelona. For this key match, manager Manuel Pellegrini will be without several players listed on our injuries page, including D. Conde, G. Lo Celso, J. Morante, G. Petit, and A. Ruibal.
Why was Pablo García's departure so emotional?
Pablo García joined Real Betis Balompié as a child and rose through every youth category to the first team. With 33 official appearances and three goals for the club, his final act was scoring the winner against Valencia in the third league match. DAZN cameras captured the moment when, after collecting his belongings at the training ground, the player left the facilities in a car with his mother driving, crying inconsolably. From inside the car, Pablo García said goodbye: "I hope they do very well in the Champions League and thank you for all these years."
His father, Ramón García, explained the difficult family process on El Partidazo de COPE. "We are having a hard time," he admitted. He revealed his son had needed sleeping pills during the final days of the window and that, despite the stress, he maintained a professional attitude by attending all training sessions. The family's priority was for Pablo to find more playing time to continue his development, a key reason behind the move.
What are the details of the deal with Racing de Santander?
The transfer was closed for €5.5 million, corresponding to 50% of the player's federative rights. Real Betis Balompié retain the other half of those rights, a clause that could be relevant in the future. Pablo García has signed a contract with Racing de Santander that ties him to the Cantabrian club until 30 June 2030. His father, who has accompanied him for his 15 years in Seville, will also do so in this new stage in Santander.
How does this exit affect the Betis squad?
The departure of a promising academy product comes as the team looks to consolidate its position in the upper part of the standings. Pablo García had shown his worth in the early season matches, but competition in attack and the need for regular minutes hastened his exit. The club must now continue to rely on its youth system while managing a very demanding immediate schedule. Fans can check the full lineup and team data on our squad page.
Real Betis Balompié's next fixture is the clash against Real Madrid at the Benito Villamarín on 4 September 2026.
