Marc Roca’s future at Real Betis may be dependant on Leeds United’s promotion to the Premier League.
Real Betis are keen for Leeds United to miss out on promotion so that they may re-sign Marc Roca this summer.
There was a lot of enthusiasm when the 27-year-old was brought in from Bayern Munich the previous summer, as he was considered as someone who could assist balance Kalvin Phillips‘ departure to Manchester City.
Even though he only played 24 games for Espanyol in La Liga, his reputation remained strong.
The Spaniard then made 32 league appearances for the Whites last season, shining early on in his relationship with Tyler Adams but faltering when the USMNT captain was injured in February.
While some may argue that Leeds would have chosen to pay a fee for the midfielder, who cost an initial £10 million when he signed last summer, the loan move at least freed up wages at Elland Road.
According to reports last month, Betis are looking to re-sign Roca from Leeds this summer if the Whites do not win promotion to the Premier League the first time around.
According to Spanish site Estadio Deportivo, Betis are hoping to prolong his stay with the club beyond this season. The midfielder is presently on loan to the Whites for the season from a La Liga club.
Marc Roca’s transfer to Real Betis
Roca has established himself as an important player, appearing often in both the league and the Europa League. He has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Pellegrini‘s team. Roca was a key contributor for Leeds last season but is expected to leave the club permanently this summer.
One alternative is for Betis to exercise a €12 million (£10.2 million) option to buy clause agreed upon last summer. However, the club’s finances make it increasingly difficult to consummate such a transaction.
Local Spanish sources currently believe that the €12 million provision is ‘far from reality’ in terms of Real Betis‘ current finances, and that it is practically guaranteed that the clause will not be activated, especially because Betis has dropped out of the European spots in La Liga with only seven games remaining, which has an influence on their budget.
However, Estadio Deportivo reports that Roca is eligible for another loan if Leeds remain in the Championship, as his contract includes a clause that allows him to leave temporarily for a second season.
Marc Roca’s Leeds future
Last season, the Whites struggled with Roca’s lack of athleticism and movement, but his passing range and ability to advance the ball were also crucial at times.
Roca could have thrived in a lower league and been good under Daniel Farke, who is much more committed to a possession-based style of play, but his desire to play at the highest level remained, and it seems probable that it will again this summer.
La Liga is a slower-paced, less physical competition, which may explain why he has played better than Whites fans saw in the Premier competition.
A reunion with Betis this summer makes sense for all parties concerned, but Leeds will aim to recoup some of the initial money paid, rather than a second loan move, which does little more than remove his pay from the books.
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