Marc Roca has completed a permanent move to Real Betis from Leeds United and he is desperate for another player on the Elland Road books to join him.
Roca impressed on loan at the La Liga side last season, returning to his home country after three years away from Spain. In those three years, he played just 24 games in two seasons at Bayern, and then Leeds.
Of course, his one and only season at Leeds ended in relegation. The left-footed midfielder jumped ship following the drop to The Championship and played 37 times for Betis during the 2023-24 campaign.
That form has seen Manuel Pellegrini’s side choose to sign him on a permanent basis for a fee believed to be in the region of £4m. They had the option of another loan, but Betis wanted to get him beyond that.
Roca desperate for ‘tremendous’ Leeds player to join him at Betis
Plenty are leaving this summer. Archie Gray, Kris Klaesson, Jamie Shackleton and Charlie Cresswell have joined Roca in leaving permanently, while Liam Cooper, Cody Drameh and Ian Poveda are free agents.
Roca’s Betis will be in the Conference League next term and are also set to complete the signing of Diego Llorente. The defender spent the last 18 months on loan at Roma, but didn’t win a permanent move.
Graham Smyth says a deal for Llorente should go through soon after Leeds accepted a second bid. Roca told Estadio Deportivo and says that he would advise, and want Llorente to join him at Los Verdiblancos.
“Obviously I would advise him because it is where I am, one wants the best for himself, and for friends too. If he ends up signing, which is not official, it will be very good, at home,” Roca said about Llorente.
“He is a very good person, great professional. A forceful defender, good physique and a good ball exit. If you sign, it will help us a lot. I want the best for my friends. You know it’s going to be very good.”
Real Betis getting a bargain in Llorente after Leeds outlay
With a deal expected to be announced at any minute given Smyth suggested a transfer could be done on Monday, Spain international Llorente is set to go to Betis for a bargain £2.5m as per Fabrizio Romano.
Given Leeds spent £18m to lure him to Elland Road from Real Sociedad in the summer of 2020, it is not only a bargain because of the difference in price but also because he impressed at Roma last season.
He played more than 40 games for Roma with Chris Smalling injured, and even earned praise from Daniele De Rossi who described Llorente as “tremendous” after the Italian replaced Jose Mourinho.
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