Betis slam transfer window shut after Fidalgo deal with no departures
Real Betis conclude their January business with just one signing as Álvaro Fidalgo arrives from Club América, while potential exits for Bakambu and others fail to materialize.
Betis have wrapped up their winter transfer window with just a single addition to the squad, opting to stand pat despite interest in several of their players.
Fidalgo: The Lone Arrival
Álvaro Fidalgo, the 28-year-old Spanish midfielder, represents the sum total of Betis’ January business. The former Club América man has penned a four-and-a-half-year deal with Los Verdiblancos and is set to be officially unveiled to the media tomorrow at 6pm at the Luis del Sol Training Ground.
With the squad list full and no wiggle room in the salary cap, Manu Fajardo’s sporting department needed outgoings to facilitate any further additions. Despite several possibilities on the table, none came to fruition as the window slammed shut.
Potential Departures That Never Materialized
Cédric Bakambu came closest to an exit with interest from a proper mixed bag of suitors:
- Oviedo and Alavés in Spain
- Mallorca looking for reinforcements
- Genoa from Italy
- Several Saudi clubs waving their checkbooks
However, for personal reasons, the Congolese striker opted to see out his contract at Betis, which expires this summer.
The Chimy Ávila situation was similar - both Getafe and Boca Juniors were sniffing around the Argentine earlier in January, but his increased playing time during Cucho Hernández’s injury absence put paid to any move.
Last-Minute Inquiries
The dog and bone was ringing off the hook in the final hours with several clubs making approaches:
- West Ham showed interest in Natan
- Turkish giants Besiktas and Galatasaray inquired about Nelson Deossa
- Bundesliga outfits Eintracht Frankfurt and RB Leipzig returned with interest in Sergi Altimira
None of these potential deals crossed the finish line, meaning all players remain at the club until at least the summer, when significant squad reshuffling is expected to strengthen the left-back position, defensive midfield, and attack.
Europa League Squad Dilemma
With the transfer window now closed, Betis face an immediate decision regarding their Europa League squad. If they wish to include new boy Fidalgo in their European roster, someone from the September registration will need to make way.
With Valles, Adrián, and Junior meeting the homegrown criteria, Betis can only register 24 players on their ‘A’ List, while Ortiz and Pablo García will remain on the ‘B’ List for academy products.
Meanwhile, the Seville side are now fully focused on Thursday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final against Atlético Madrid at La Cartuja, where they’ll be battling for a semi-final berth.