TRIMMING & RE-SHAPING THE SQUAD
Mendieta has been extremely busy in his quest to prepare the Verdeblanco’s for life in La Liga 123, with many old faces departing and many new faces arriving.
Despite a good sized transfer pot, Mendieta has had to limit himself in the market. In Particular, looking at quantity over quality (to an extent), with many holes in the squad to fill for the manager’s proffered 4-4-2
A forward (to push Sanabria), right and left winger (cover for Tello and Campbell), Central midfielder, right full back, centre back and back up keeper are all needed for Mendieta to bring the squad up to scratch, and that’s if none of his higher quality player’s have their release fee’s triggered by the bigger clubs sniffing about!
OUT
Both 37 year old Albanian full back
Ansi Agolli and 23 year old Spanish right winger
Guerrero depart for Italian shores linking up with new clubs in Seria B for nominal fees. Agolli joins Spal for €2.75M and Guerrero joins Frosinone Calcio for €2M.
Rob Schoofs will hook up with fellow La Liga 123 side Cadiz on a 12 month loan deal worth €1.2M to Betis. Mendieta will keep a keen eye on the progress of the Belgium midfielder, and how the handles the rigours of the lower league.
Former Inter Milan centre half
Trent Sainsbury is next out of the turnstiles. Surplus to requirements, the Australian departs Estadio Benito Villamarín for a cool €7.1M. Chinese giants Guangzhou Evergrande beat off strong competition for the defender’s signature, tying him down to a 4 year multi-million pound contract.
Last out of the door, for now, is
Fabian Ruiz. The 23 year old attacking midfielder will continue his career in the heart of Europe, signing a 3 year deal with Swiss outfit Young Boys, departing his old club for a fee of €7.4M
A club spokesman informed the media that Real Betis have knocked back bids for big hitters,
Boudebouz and
Guardado. the midfield pair are an integral part of this Betis side and he manager would be loathe to let either leave, despite strong suitors. One does wonder though whether, at 33 years of age and still worth a handsome sum, Guardado is not worth sacrificing for the greater good of the club..... the Mexican also commands a hefty salary.
IN
Vietto arrives for €2.2M on a year long loan.
Starved of minutes at Atletico Madrid, Vietto was placed on the loan list in an effort to get the talented forward some much needed first team football. If the Argentinian can reproduce the kind of form which secured him a 2015, €20M transfer from Villarreal to Atletico Madrid, then Betis will reap the benefits.
The second player in, again on a 12 month loan deal, is former liverpool youth prodigy
Benjamin Woodburn.
Another player with a point to prove, but many years ahead of him, Woodburn has been brought in by Mendieta to offer competition to Joel Campbell out on the left and possibly up top too. He signs for €860K from Burnley.
Betis have struck a deal midway through July with Mendieta’s former club Las Palmas, bringing cultured central midfield
Sergi Samper to the Andalusian outfit.
Mendieta gave his thoughts on the new player:
“At only €6.4M, Sergi’s arrival represents really good value for this club. He reminds me in so many ways of Parejo from my time at Valencia. Sergi is not particularly physical, nor is he blessed with pace, but what he lacks in physicality he more than makes up for in guile and his ability to see a pass. He plays on the front foot, one step ahead, and will fit in nicely, you will see.”
On the same day as Samper’s arrival, Betis announce the acquisition of
Pedro Pereira from Benfica.
Like Woodburn and Vietto, Pereira comes to Betis for €5.7M with a point to prove, having not quite had the desired impact at Benfica after his breakthrough season at Sampdoria sealed the youngster a switch to Portugal. Pereira plays primarily as a right full back but can also be utilised as a centre back if needed.