Luiz Felipe to leave Real Betis for Saudi Arabia | OneFootball

Real Betis are very close to selling Luiz Felipe to Al-Ittihad. The centre-back is set to leave the La Liga club for €22m plus €3m in variables, with the transfer window in Saudi Arabia closing on September 7.

Talks accelerated on Tuesday night and are continuing today, report Relevo. Not even the reluctance of Manuel Pellegrini, who has publicly and privately expressed his desire for the defender not to leave once the transfer window is over, has been able to prevent the deal, which is at an advanced stage

“I don’t think Luiz Felipe will be sold. It was a possibility until the 31st, now it would be irresponsible to stay with just two centre-backs,” said the Betis coach after the win over Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

Pellegrini is now set to be deprived of his first-choice centre-back. The Chilean head coach will only be able to count on Germán Pezzella, Marc Bartra and Chadi Riad until the winter transfer window in January 2024.

Kieran Quaile | GSFN