Manuel Pellegrini wants to strengthen the center of the defense. The Chilean coach intends to give aggressiveness to an area that suffers too much and for which Betis is paying the toll of no less than 21 goals against, the most in First until matchday 10. A defect that comes long and hits to the Verdiblancos since the last time they returned to the top flight, a little over five years ago.
Mandi (who ends his contract in June), Bartra, Sidnei and the recently signed Víctor Ruiz have not alleviated this chronic illness. The Heliopolitan club is also going through financial problems and unless it sells for a significant amount, it will not have too much money for the winter investment. Comb over everything the free agent market, although I could not enroll anyone until the January window reopens, as there are currently no free chips. One of those footballers who already surveyed in the summer and has played again is Ezequiel Garay, who ended his tenure with Valencia in July and has not found a team for the first half of the season.
LaLiga Santander
* Data updated as of November 26, 2020
Garay, 34, has been linked in recent days with Barcelona, which is looking for a center-back to replace the injured Gerard Piqué. The interest of Newell's Old Boys is also rumored from Argentina, a team in which he grew up and from which he arrived in Europe, in 2006, to Racing Santander. After also passing through Real Madrid, Benfica and Zenit, in 2016 he signed for Valencia, where he has spent four seasons. A crusader break in February, just before lockdown, put an untimely end to his days in Mestalla.