Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed that defender Chadi Riad “is in talks” with Crystal Palace and so won’t be in the squad for the clash with Real Madrid this weekend.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who cover comments from the Real Betis manager today after reports yesterday that Crystal Palace had reached a verbal agreement with the Spanish side for the player.
“Chadi is going to pass the medical tests on Monday and will not be summoned to Madrid,” he is quoted as saying.
According to Mundo’s information, this essentially confirmed the Moroccan defender will be going to Crystal Palace shortly in a deal that will cost €15m plus €2m in bonuses that will be shared between Betis and Barcelona.
Betis have already paid the €3m fee required to sign Riad on a permanent basis from the Catalans and will then share the €12m profit they are making from the deal with Crystal Palace with them also thanks to a clause in the original loan agreement.
All that remains is for the player to complete a medical at Selhurst Park, which it seems is booked in for Monday as Palace look to move quickly this summer to bolster Oliver Glasner’s squad.
They’ve pushed ahead in negotiations with Betis this week for the central defender and appear to have now got their man.
