The Madrid goalkeeper arrived in Seville this morning and has passed the medical tests. He signs on loan from Villarreal until the end of the season.
Diego Conde is now a new player for Real Betis. The 28-year-old goalkeeper underwent a medical examination at the club's reference clinic on Monday and signed his loan contract at the Benito Villamarín offices. The keeper arrives from Villarreal to fill the gap left by Pau López, who was transferred to FC Andorra last week.
The operation has been closed as a pure loan, with no mandatory purchase option, and will extend until the end of the current season. Betis does not take on a high salary burden, as Villarreal covers part of the player's wages. This arrangement satisfies the needs of both clubs and allows the green-and-white team to strengthen their goalkeeping position without compromising their salary cap.
A replacement formed after Pau López's departure
The departure of the Catalan goalkeeper, who headed to Andorra in a transfer that freed up significant salary space, forced sporting director Manu Fajardo to expedite efforts to find a replacement. The chosen one was Diego Conde, a goalkeeper with experience in La Liga who had already been linked to Betis in previous transfer windows.
Conde arrived last night in Seville and early this morning went to the club's clinic to undergo physical tests. After passing the exams, he went to the stadium offices to sign his contract. There, he was welcomed by representatives of the sporting management, who confirmed the completion of the third signing of the summer.
The approval of Íñigo Pérez and the goalkeeper's history
Conde's departure from Villarreal received the approval of his coach, Íñigo Pérez, who green-lighted the loan considering that the player needs minutes to regain his best form. The Madrid native started his time at the yellow team as a starter under Marcelino García Toral, but a muscle injury halted his progress and he lost prominence.
Now, at Betis, he will seek to regain confidence and prove that he can be the future goalkeeper at Heliópolis. The competition with Rui Silva and Fran Vieites will be tough, but the management is confident that Conde will provide security in goal and fight for the starting position. Betis fans are eagerly awaiting a goalkeeper who, despite physical setbacks, has shown quality at his best moments.
“Diego Conde is an experienced goalkeeper eager to prove his worth. He has had physical issues, but we are confident that here he will find the minutes he needs,” club sources stated.
The loan does not include a mandatory purchase option, but Betis retains a preference to negotiate a transfer at the end of the season if the performance meets expectations. For now, the club has preferred not to take economic risks and opts for a flexible arrangement.
For Sevilla fans, Conde's arrival represents a bet on youth and potential, while also lightening the salary burden. Betis thus completes its third signing of the summer and strengthens a key position ahead of the upcoming season, in which the team will face European competition.
Diego Conde will train under Manuel Pellegrini in the coming days to begin pre-season. His debut could take place in the first friendly of the tour, scheduled for late July.
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