Several FC Barcelona players who have played this season away from the club on loan have been quite impressive, with the likes of Eric Garcia and Julian Araujo proving to be important players with their respective sides.
Another defender who has performed at a good level this time is Chadi Riad, who has been playing regularly for the Real Betis team, and has accumulated 26 La Liga appearances this season. Everything indicates that the Spanish club will exercise the option to retain the center-back permanently for around €3 million.
However, as Mundo Deportivo has reported, Real Betis is not the only club interested in having the Moroccan defender in their squad, as the Premier League side Crystal Palace also has him at the top of their priority list, especially with the possible departure of their current defensive leader, Marc Guehi.
The report further mentions that Real Betis currently value the defender at around €17.5 million, and the English side is pushing to reach an agreement for him with the Verdiblancos.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will also have a buyback option on the center-back if he becomes a permanent Real Betis player this summer. However, the Blaugranes will be able to exercise this buyback option only in 2025, and not in 2024.
Thus, if Real Betis decides to exercise the purchase option this summer, the Catalans can get the defender back only by negotiating with them, and the Verdiblancos will have no legal obligation to sell him to Barcelona this summer.
For this purpose, Barcelona can offer them their desired amount of cash or can transfer them the rights of another player, like Ez Abde, who was transferred from the Catalan club to Betis for €7.5 million last summer, but on whom the Blaugranes kept a buyback option and a 50% right to any future transfer fee paid for him.
