Betis’ Sofyan Amrabat to Undergo Surgery, Affecting Winter Transfer Strategies

On Monday, following the conclusion of the Africa Cup of Nations, Real Betis announced via its internal channels that their medical team, in coordination with the Moroccan national team and Fenerbahçe, has decided on a course of action regarding Sofyan Amrabat’s persistent ankle issues. Amrabat, who suffered a significant injury from a collision with Isco at the end of November, is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery in the Netherlands later this week. This setback will keep him off the field for several weeks, if not months.

The approach for the midfielder mirrors the previous decision made for Isco Alarcón, with one notable difference: the more than three weeks that elapsed between Isco’s surgery at the end of December and Amrabat’s upcoming procedure. This delay was largely due to Amrabat’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, where he hoped to contribute but could only appear in the initial two group stage matches, revealing that his ankle problem was more severe than initially suspected.

In Isco’s case, the conservative treatment option using growth factors to avoid surgery was abandoned shortly after commencing the treatment. For Amrabat, the upcoming procedure not only means that Betis will be without his crucial presence in the midfield, missing since late November, but it will also impact their movements in the winter transfer market. Without the Moroccan, the chances of a player like Altimira being sold in January to generate capital diminish significantly, which in turn affects the prioritization of potential reinforcements.

Currently competing in three tournaments, the absence of a pivot like Altimira, one of the more marketable players on the roster, while relying solely on Marc Roca and Deossa for that position, poses a significant risk for Betis, especially knowing Amrabat will be unavailable for an extended period. Alternatively, this situation may necessitate the acquisition of not only a coveted striker to compete with Cucho Hernández but also a midfielder.

As the winter transfer window approaches its closure in less than two weeks, the club has yet to offload any of the players deemed transferable, leaving them with little room for new signings. Cucho’s injury had already disrupted forward plans, where Bakambu and Chimy were expected to seek new opportunities; now, Amrabat’s injury further complicates the decision-making process for the sporting direction, which, in alignment with Pellegrini, seeks reinforcements that will enhance the squad rather than simply adding to it.