Real Betis Balompié concluded the transfer window without securing the defensive midfielder requested by manager Manuel Pellegrini. A logjam in outgoing transfers left the club unable to pursue an additional reinforcement for that key position.
The Verdiblancos begin the season sitting seventh in La Liga with 6 points from two wins and one loss. Their next challenge is a home match against second-placed Real Madrid on September 4th. This competitive context heightens the need for a balanced squad.
Why did the defensive midfielder not arrive?
The Real Betis Balompié squad became completely saturated after the summer's movements. With the arrival of Dani Ceballos and other signings, the club registered 25 first-team players, plus two with reserve team numbers. Manuel Pellegrini stated the team was "left without that positional pivot... He publicly requested." The board prioritized maintaining the core that finished fifth last season, which complicated the necessary departures to free up space and resources.
Sales outlined in the budget were ultimately reduced to fringe players like Altimira and Pablo García, plus potential income from Mendy or Gnangoro. Names like Natan and Abde, despite transfer interest, were not sold. This blockage prevented the operation the coaching staff deemed necessary to complete the team.
How was the squad finally configured?
Real Betis Balompié made five first-team signings, in addition to promoting Manu González and Morante from the academy. Diego Conde replaced Pau López in goal, while Fran García took Ricardo Rodríguez's place in defense. In midfield, Facundo Bernal was chosen for the pivot role, ahead of other options like Amrabat and Ceballos himself.
This decision creates fierce competition in the center of the park. Nine players, including Marc Roca, Nelson Deossa, Álvaro Fidalgo, Pablo Fornals, Giovani Lo Celso, Isco, and Iker Losada, are vying for three central spots. Some, like Deossa, have the versatility to also play on the wings or even as a forward, as seen in pre-season. In attack, the signing of Parrot arrived to compete with Cucho Hernández following the departures of Bakambu and Chimy Ávila.
Which players ended up staying?
Several footballers who might have sought more minutes elsewhere ended up remaining at the Benito Villamarín. Junior Firpo and Giovani Lo Celso expressed their intention to stay during the summer. Álvaro Fidalgo, who had not played league minutes by the window's close, also stayed. Nelson Deossa, who even received a guard of honor from his teammates, is another who remained.
The departures that materialized were those of Gonzalo Petit, due to a lack of an EU passport, and the late transfer of Pablo García for financial reasons. The youngster Morante is set to take his place in the wing rotations. The current injury list, which includes D. Conde, G. Lo Celso, J. Morante, G. Petit, and A. Ruibal, further complicates managing such a large squad. You can check the full team status on our injuries page.
How does this affect the start of the season?
With a record of 4 goals scored and 5 conceded, Real Betis Balompié needs to quickly find a solid balance in midfield. The absence of the specific defensive profile Pellegrini wanted will test the adaptability of the current options. Isco, for his part, is expected to improve his performance from the start of the campaign.
The team is three points behind leaders Barcelona, so every on-field decision counts. The next major test is this Wednesday against Real Madrid, a high-voltage match you can find on our fixtures schedule. The squad, as currently constructed, must prove its worth immediately.
