Two Betis players join De la Fuente's list: Marc Roca and Alvaro Valles called up

Real Betis Balompié

113

Álvaro Valles
6.500.000€7

J12

4

J11

11

J10

7

J9

5

J8

PT

16

It is no mere coincidence. The Andalusian side's goalkeeper and midfielder are two of the key pillars of "Eurobetis". Valles put together six outstanding seasons at UD Las Palmas. In 2018 he arrived in Seville, but he was sent out on loan to CD Gerena and after a season there, he joined the Canary Islands club for just 50000 euros. He only needed to settle in and grow as a footballer; the qualities were always there.

Returning to Betis was not easy. Alvaro had to force his exit from Las Palmas by refusing to play and renew, even ending up without a club in the final months of the 24/25 campaign. It was difficult, but after years, the Verdiblancos' goal, which had been left without a true safe pair of hands after the departure of Rui Silva, is once again in the best possible hands.

57

Marc Roca
3.320.000€+130.000€4

J12

10

J11

6

J10

-

J9

4

J8

MD

10

The Catalan is heading into his fourth year in the Andalusian capital and has always been a clear example of resilience. When he arrived from Leeds he settled straight in at Villamarin and, until the physical problems began, he was a regular for Manuel Pellegrini, but as the final months of the season approached, injuries to his left ankle almost wiped him off the pitch. Far from seeing the light after the summer, in 24/25 - when he played 14 matches - and in 25/26, after going under the knife, he had to accept the role of impact substitute. He made 29 appearances, but almost all of them came from the bench, with his minutes gradually increasing as he finally worked through the pain he had been carrying.

This is proving to be his year of full confirmation: he brings balance with and without the ball, sets the tempo the Andalusian club want at any given moment and is also physically decisive. He has reached a century of appearances in the green-and-white shirt at the best moment of his career, and the next challenge is none other than showing De La Fuente that he can fight for a place in the best midfield in the world.

A huge leap and a carefully considered return

We recently noted in this same outlet that the doors of the Spanish national team were beginning to open wide for the man from La Rinconada. Alvaro Valles is a particularly striking case because he is a player who has not come through the youth ranks of "La Roja". Most of the 27 players in this new Luis De la Fuente squad have been coached by him or by the coach in charge at some point in their careers and know Las Rozas inside out. He will share a dressing room for the first time with Unai Simon, David Raya and Joan Garcia, while the three goalkeepers have all crossed paths in some of the national team's age-group sides and know perfectly well what goes on behind the scenes.

71

Unai Simón
4.190.000€+170.000€4

J12

7

J11

9

J10

9

J9

0

J8

PT

05

58

Joan García
5.870.000€6

J12

5

J11

3

J10

4

J9

8

J8

PT

04

His call-up is down to the superb level he is showing and, in addition, to an exceptional circumstance; David Raya will be absent for the first few days for personal reasons and will join the group later.

"He is a player who is doing fantastically well, it is a good moment to see him and for him to experience the national-team environment"

As the coach said, for the Sevillian, this is a huge opportunity. He will be able to acclimatise to the atmosphere and get to know all the ins and outs from the inside. Above all, he will be able to learn from three of the goalkeepers with the brightest present and future in the international game. It is also an opportunity for them and for the Riojan coach himself, who once again has championed meritocracy. That is the only way to build a team. In his case, a (very) winning team.

Marc Roca does know what it is to represent Spain in official competition and worked under De la Fuente with the under-21s, going on to be crowned European champions in 2019 after beating Germany 2-1 in the final.

85

Rodri Hernández
18.200.000€-60.000€-

J12

9

J11

4

J10

15

J9

12

J8

MD

11

His call-up is due to an unpleasant but perfectly natural and common reason in sport: a teammate's injury. Rodri finished injured against Alaves and will be out for a month. Alongside Zubimendi - a regular in the national side - the Betis player is the profile that best fits the football Spain want to play.

"We have the chance to open the door to other great footballers like Marc Roca and I am delighted. He is at his club at a very high level, he has been there a long time and he was a champion with us. We are really looking forward to meeting up again".