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Analyzing Real Betis’ Summer 2024 Transfer Business

September 27, 2024
Transfer Analysis, La Liga Analysis

Real Betis are following a season in which they finished 3rd in their Europa League group and lost in the first knockout round of the UEFA Europa Conference League. In addition, after several years ending in the top 6 and earning qualification to the Europa League, they finished 7th, getting into the Conference League. After a worse season than the former ones, they have made many changes, but can they end once more in the top 6?

 

In this article, we will be analyzing Betis’ summer business position by position. For each position, there will be a ranking in which I put a color for each player considering the level of each player also taking into account the manager’s system and their role. The ranking will go red for bad, yellow for average, and green for good.

 

Manager

 

Manuel Pellegrini has been the Betis manager for many years now and has done a great job with consecutive years in Europe as well as the conquest of the Copa del Rey in 2021. He has shown many times that he is the perfect manager for Betis. Nonetheless, if he isn’t able to get back on track this season, Betis may have to look for someone else for the job.

 

 

Goalkeeper

 

Betis have not made many changes in the goalkeeper position, just the signing of 37-year-old Adrián on a free after Claudio Bravo retired. In addition, they have promoted 25-year-old Fran Vieites to be the third choice goalkeeper.

 

The Adrián deal is a good operation as he has come in for free and is an experienced player who can give a good level if needed. Rui Silva has been the first-choice goalkeeper for a few years now and has impressed ever since he arrived from Granada on a free, so keeping him was a smart move. 

 

 

Defenders

 

Pellegrini plays with a back 4 and likes that his defenders can dominate their duels and also for them to be comfortable on the ball. In addition, the full-backs need to be able to generate advantages on the wings going up the field.

 

Center-Backs

 

Betis have made many changes in their center-back position with the departure of Chadi Riad, who was signed to then sell him straight after to Crystal Palace earning €15 million. Chadi was one of Betis’ best players last season in defense, however, seeing as they sold him straight after, I assume they did not have enough money to purchase him. 

 

In addition, 33-year-old Germán Pezzella has left the club for €4.5 million to River Plate. This operation is not awful as he is already 33 years old and earning almost €5 million for him may seem like an excellent sell. Nonetheless, he was a great player and offered a lot to Betis. Also, Sokratis who was signed in January retired but we all saw that he was not a player that would have stayed for more than six months at the club. 

 

 

Incoming was 30-year-old Diego Llorente for a bit more than €3 million which I believe is great business as he is a player that can give a lot and has experience in Spain. In addition, he has the ability to play the ball which suits Pellegrini’s playing style. Furthermore, they signed 23-year-old Natan on loan from Napoli for €1 million, which suits Pellegrini perfectly as he is a ball-playing center-back who can break lines with his dribbling and passing. 

 

Moreover, 33-year-old Marc Bartra has stayed at the club who maybe could have found a new club this season due to his age though he can still bring experience to the back-line and a secure back-up option. However, one issue with Betis in this position is that they have just three center-backs which could leave them lingering if they face a few injuries, especially considering they play three competitions. Nonetheless, those at the club will give a good level when fit and are perfect for the manager.

 

 

Right-Backs

 

Betis have not made any changes and rightly so as they have 29-year-old Héctor Bellerín, and 31-year-old Youssouf Sabaly who suit Pellegrini’s style and have shown good form at Betis. Keeping both of them at the club was a smart move as it is a position where they are secure and changes are not necessary.

 

 

Left-Backs

 

In the left-back position, Betis have made many changes, as both of their left-backs have left the club. 24-year-old Juan Miranda has gone to Bologna for free which is not a great operation as he is a player for which you can earn more money. In addition, he was a young player who had good performances under Manuel Pellegrini. Moreover, 24-year-old Abner has gone to Lyon for €8 million which is an excellent sale as he did not play well at Betis and they were able to get a large amount of money.

 

 

To replace them, they have signed 26-year-old Romain Perraud for €3.5 million from Southampton after a season with limited game-time. If he performs well he could be an interesting player as offensively he is very good, though he is more accustomed to receiving the ball high up the pitch rather than receiving it deep and helping in progression. 

 

They have also signed 31-year-old Ricardo Rodríguez on a free transfer from Torino after his excellent Euro campaign. Even though he had an excellent tournament, he does not fit Pellegrini’s style as he is a player who does not go up the pitch and excels in a back 3 whereas Betis plays in a back 4 and does not have the characteristics to play center-back or left-back.

 

 

Midfielders

 

Pellegrini plays with two holding midfielders and one attacking midfielder that has more freedom to roam around creating numerical superiorities. These players have to be excellent on the ball, and the attacking midfielder must be technical with the ability to dribble past opponents and be a threat.

 

Holding Midfielders

 

Betis currently have four holding midfielders, them being 22-year-old Johnny Cardoso who was a sensation last season and is currently valued at €25 million by Transfermarkt. In addition, they have 32-year-old William Carvalho who is a great player but is plagued with injuries, he was possibly a player that could have been sold due to his poor availability and age. 

 

 

Furthermore, there is 23-year-old Sergi Altimira who was signed from Getafe and looks promising if he is able to get more game time this season. Finally, there is 27-year-old Marc Roca who made his loan permanent for €4.5 million and is an excellent signing, perfect for Pellegrini.

 

One of the worst operations this summer was letting 30-year-old Guido Rodríguez leave on a free transfer due to his high market value and excellent performances at the club. 

 

 

Attacking Midfielders

 

Betis currently have four attacking midfielders at the club even after 31-year-old Nabil Fekir’s departure for €5 million. This operation is quite poor as he is still a great player and they could have gotten more money for him. Nonetheless, the players remaining in the squad are 32-year-old Isco who is the best player and transforms the team when he is playing. It is a very good sign to see him staying at the club for one more season. Also, there is 28-year-old Pablo Fornals who was signed last January and is also a great player available for that position.

 

Furthermore, they have just re-signed 28-year-old Lo Celso for €5 million from Spurs who can add a lot of quality to the side and depth. Nonetheless, seeing the players available in this position perhaps his signing was unnecessary. This is because, there is also Iker Losada who seeing the signing of Lo Celso should have been sent on loan after spending less than €2 million on him from the second division.

 

 

Forwards

 

Pellegrini plays with just one striker and two wingers who have to be agile and able to dribble past opponents as well as be effective in the 1vs1 situations. The striker needs to be more of a goal threat in the box where the wingers and the attacking midfielder can feed him.

 

Right Wingers

 

Betis have two players that can play on the wing that are 19-year-old sensation Assane Diao, and 28-year-old Aitor Ruibal. This is a position that could have been reinforced as they have faced several departures, them being 23-year-old Rober González who has been sold for €1.2 million which is great as he never had protagonism at Betis. 

 

 

Also, 24-year-old Juan Cruz was sold to Leganés for €1 million and he has started the season exceptionally at his new club. Finally, they sold Rodri Sánchez for €8 million which is an excellent sale as he never quite was a starter at the club and he was inconsistent. Nonetheless, no additions have been made to a position that needed it.

 

However, there is also 30-year-old Chimy Ávila that can play in this position giving more options.

 

 

Left-Wingers

 

Betis have faced a terrible loss in this position which is 31-year-old Ayoze Pérez for just €4 million, a player who was exceptional last season. To replace him, no signings have been made, but there is the opportunity for 22-year-old Abde Ezzalzouli to show his potential after signing last season for €10 million from FC Barcelona. 

 

In addition, 31-year-old Juanmi has come back from loan at Cádiz and it is clear that he is past his best level, and is a player who could have seen the back door this summer. Nonetheless, Pablo Fornals is another player who can play well in that position.

 

 

Center-Forwards

 

There have been several departures in the striker position with 32-year-old Willian José leaving the club heading to Spartak Moscow for €2 million. This operation is great as he had lost his game time and had nothing left to offer at his age with a high salary. In addition, 31-year-old Borja Iglesias has joined Celta on loan which is a great deal as that is the perfect environment to get his career back on track and then either keep him or sell him for more.

 

At the club, 30-year-old Chimy Ávila has remained at the club after being signed in January and getting injured. He is a player that can offer something different, however, I think that he does not offer what Pellegrini wants from his strikers. In addition, there is 33-year-old Cédric Bakambu who is quite old and perhaps could have been a player that left the club. 

 

 

Nonetheless, there has been one incoming which is Vitor Roque on loan from FC Barcelona who if he can reach his potential, could be an excellent signing. However, that is yet to be seen and until then he is a player that has not quite fulfilled himself in Barcelona, but he offers characteristics that can be of use to Pellegrini. This is because he is great on the ball and is good in closed spaces.

 

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, Betis have made some great signings and some great sales this summer, nonetheless, there have been some operations such as Guido Rodríguez that could have had a better ending.

 

To improve their summer transfer window, another center-back is needed as they may face issues throughout the season with just 3, even though Ricardo Rodríguez can do the job there. Their left-back position does not have players of Pellegrini’s desired characteristics, especially Ricardo Rodríguez, so another player there similar to Juan Miranda would have been perfect. Also, in attack, they lack decisive players apart from Isco and perhaps on the right-wing or in the center-forward position, a more established player would have improved the squad significantly.

 

Looking at the team, you can say that they can reach the top 7, and perhaps qualify for the Europa League, but do they have what it takes to make a deep run in UEFA’s tertiary competition and become the first Spanish team to win the Europa Conference League? That’s easier said than done.

 

By: Juan Fernandez Valencia / @ScoutLaLiga

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport

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