The Spanish media are managing to talk up a battle between Barcelona and Real Madrid for Betis’ Fabian.
Suggestions from the Catalan media this week that Barcelona may bail on Gremio’s Arthur, lose their €4m deposit in the process and look at alternatives including Fabian have got a little carried away.
Thursday’s edition of Spanish newspaper AS says Fabian is ‘the goal of Real Madrid and Barca’ and that he’s been the subject of interest for some months.
With a buyout clause of €30m, a transfer would be relatively simple, but it’s likely Barcelona and Madrid would try for an even lower amount. It’s not just Spain’s big two, AS report that there’s wider interest around Europe, spurred on by the player’s recent performances.
At 22 years of age, Fabian represents a bet for the present and future, and at 1.89m he has the physical presence Barca are said to be concerned 1.72m Arthur lacks.Betis coach Quique Setién has had his say: “I told him the same thing as Ceballos. I think he should stay.”
Dani Ceballos, who was also of interest to both Barcelona and Real Madrid, moved to the latter and hasn’t had the prominence he’ll have hoped for.
