Real Betis Balompié has ruled out signing a defensive midfielder and is focusing all its efforts on securing the return of Dani Ceballos. The news comes with the transfer window closing in less than five hours and following a key technical staff meeting at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol. The Verdiblancos, sitting seventh in La Liga with 6 points from 2 wins and 1 loss, aim to strengthen their midfield ahead of the upcoming clash against Real Madrid.
Why has the pivot signing been ruled out?
Manager Manuel Pellegrini had asked the technical staff to explore options for a defensive midfielder. However, moving players out has proven difficult, closing that door. The club has managed to finalize the loan of Gonzalo Petit to Cádiz, which will be made official on Tuesday. But the sporting director insists on trying to move Iker Losada, who has offers from the Segunda División and foreign leagues. Furthermore, options for loaning out Pablo García are being explored, with Racing de Santander joining the bid according to El Desmarque. A loan possibility for Álvaro Fidalgo is also being considered. All these potential departures aim to generate salary cap space and free up a midfield slot for Ceballos.
How is the Ceballos operation progressing?
Dani Ceballos, who terminated his contract with Real Madrid in early July, is accelerating his return to the Benito Villamarín. The Betis board considers his signing an absolute priority. With the pursuit of a pivot now discarded, confidence for that position rests with Facundo Bernal and Marc Roca. The urgency of the operation is heightened by the current injury list, which includes Aitor Ruibal, Diego Conde, Giovani Lo Celso, and Gonzalo Petit, information you can follow on our injuries page.
What is Betis's current league context?
Pellegrini's team faces this final stretch of the market after an irregular start to the domestic season. With 4 goals scored and 5 conceded, their goal difference stands at -1. They are 3 points behind leaders Barcelona in a standings table you can check on our standings page. The next fixture, a high-voltage home match against Real Madrid on September 4th, adds pressure to complete the signing. Madrid are second in the table, promising a high-intensity duel, like all those on our fixtures schedule.
Who will take on the defensive midfield responsibilities?
With the current squad, responsibility for the pivot role will fall to the duo of Facundo Bernal and Marc Roca. The club trusts that Roca's experience and Bernal's potential can cover that need. This strategic decision frees up economic and sporting resources for a clear bet: the talent and creativity of Dani Ceballos. The squad, on a run of two consecutive wins after an initial loss (LWW), looks to consolidate its positive momentum. Signing Ceballos would not only be a quality addition but also a sentimental move for the fans. The team faces Madrid with seventh place on the line and the squad detailed on our squad page.
