MADRID, July 18 — Goalkeeper Diego Conde has joined Real Betis on a season’s loan from Villarreal as part of a goalkeeping merry-go-round at the Sevilla-based club.
Conde’s move includes a clause which allows Betis to make the move permanent at the end of the season and gives the 27-year-old the chance to get some game time after he was limited to one appearance in the Copa del Rey knockout competition last season for Villarreal. Although Conde, who has also been at Getafe, Leganes and Atletico Madrid’s B-team, will in theory be backup goalkeeper to Alvaro Valles, the fact Betis will play in next season’s Champions League means he is likely to figure in the plans of coach Manuel Pellegrino. Conde arrived at Betis the day after Pau Lopez ended his contract with the club to sign for second-division Andorra.
Former Spain international, Lopez has been offered a three-year contract with Andorra, which is an attractive move given that he was born in nearby Girona and only made 17 appearances last season for Betis in all competitions after agreeing a three-year contract last summer.
Xinhua
