AliousChadi Riad’s imminent move from Real Betis to Crystal Palace is part of a ‘profound restructuring’ at the Spanish club, as they appear to be completely overhauling their defensive lineup this summer.
According to Diario de Sevilla, Riad’s transfer to Crystal Palace will be one of several moves as Betis rebuilds the foundation of their team.
The newspaper reports that Betis are finalizing Riad’s move to Crystal Palace, with ongoing negotiations between the two clubs over a deal likely to be worth €15 million plus €2 million in variables.
Talks between the two sides are progressing towards a ‘final understanding’, at which point Betis will officially purchase Riad from Barcelona before selling him on to the Eagles.
This deal, as explained elsewhere, will see Betis earn around €6 million, plus €1 million in variables, as they will have to pay to buy Riad permanently and hand over half of their profits to Barcelona.
Sport corroborates these reports and goes a step further, stating that Crystal Palace and Betis have a verbal agreement in place, and all that remains is to draft the contract and finalize a few other details.
They provide further insight into Barcelona’s role, explaining how the Catalan club has orchestrated a transfer game to ensure they receive a share of the Premier League cash.
Barcelona could have taken Riad back this summer, despite being aware of Premier League interest for months, but have devised an arrangement that will ensure they earn more money.
They have positioned themselves as a ‘simple spectator’ in the negotiations between Betis and Crystal Palace, rather than being actively involved. Thanks to various clauses, this means they will end up earning more profit than if they had been directly involved in the proceedings.
Barcelona is expected to earn around €10-11 million from the transfer, which they want sealed long before June 30th so that it can be included in their books and help balance their accounts.
Alious
