Plans: “The club’s intention is to renew Miranda and Guido”

The sports director of Real Betis, Ramón Planes, referred this Monday to several names of the current Verdiblanca during the press conference to present Sokratis as the new center back of the team coached by Manuel Pellegrini.

“We aim for Sokratis to bring all his experience to the group. Of all the options we have, it’s great to see the first one here today. We’ve set a challenge with Luiz Felipe and Bartra getting out of harm’s way. We are looking for a player with a level that matters. The arrival of Sokratis is out of obligation. It is a complex and difficult, demanding task. It is not easy to find a top-level center back as a free agent. The process took time because he has other offers, you have to appreciate the work of the technical secretariat. It will help us,” said Planes about the arrival of Sokratis.

Asked about a possible loan to Sergi Altimira in January, as he was enjoying minutes under Manuel Pelelgrini’s command, Planes asked for some patience: “There are two months left in the competition. Sergi is a player who showed that he has a level the minute he plays. School year, the jump is important. Chadi was moved and responded, who came in the same situation. Sergi will surely respond too. It’s too early to judge.”

The sporting director also spoke about the renewal of Juan Miranda, which seems to have stalled after knowing the interest from clubs such as Milan and Newcastle, who are looking for him as a free player: “We have been talking about for several weeks in extending his contract so he can continue with “Betis. That is the club’s will, to continue. Then there are two wills, club and player: the club’s is to extend the contract with us.”

The airlines also referred to Guido’s renewal: “We have to highly value the fact that he is with us. Last summer it seemed obvious that he would leave, but we rejected the offers. We are working for his continuity. The conversations are escalating as the contract expires on June 30th”.