Real Betis looks to offload Fidalgo and Deossa after Liga MX signings fall flat

Two signings with bright pasts in Liga MX and complicated presents in Heliopolis. That is, in a nutshell, what's happening to Real Betis with Alvaro Fidalgo and Nelson Deossa, two midfielders who arrived with plenty of hype and now find themselves on the club's list of potential summer exits.

Fidalgo's case stands out because the Spaniard had been a key piece for America during the club's tricampeonato run: one Clausura title, two Aperturas and a Campeones Cup backed up his signing. Betis paid around 1.7 million dollars for him, a low fee explained by the fact that he had just six months left on his contract with Las Aguilas and had himself asked to return to Spain. On paper, a low risk move. On the field, a different story: in the first half of 2026 he managed just 13 appearances and one goal, never establishing himself in Manuel Pellegrini's starting eleven.

Now the club is willing to sell him. It's not that they want him gone at any cost, but they don't consider him untouchable either. They're looking to recoup what they spent, a little under 2 million dollars, and free up salary space to bring in at least two new signings. The problem is that, so far, no serious offer has come in. And here's the curious part: even though his name still carries weight in Mexico after his America years, going back to Liga MX is not Fidalgo's first choice.

Deossa, caught between injuries and mistrust

If Fidalgo's deal was a cheap move that didn't pan out, Deossa's is a different story altogether. Betis paid close to 15 million dollars to Monterrey for a Colombian coming off a strong season, with previous stops at Pachuca and Rayados, and a settled spot in the Colombia national team. The expectation was that his physical presence, his ball carrying and his runs from midfield would translate quickly to LaLiga. That hasn't happened.

Deossa started out dealing with an ankle issue, didn't make his debut until matchday four, and then got injured again. On top of that came tactical decisions that left him out of the lineup for long stretches of the season. In March, for instance, he played in just two of Betis's six matches. Spanish media even reported rumors about off field issues, though none of that was ever officially confirmed.

The physical problems and the adaptation process to European soccer affected his performance.Manuel Pellegrini

Unlike Fidalgo, Deossa has at least logged minutes, and he continues to draw interest in the market. America has asked about him, and he has also been linked with other clubs, though no formal offer has materialized yet. The most concrete interest reportedly comes from Olympiacos of Greece, in a deal that could exceed 10 million dollars, a figure that would leave Betis satisfied.

All of this stands in contrast to the case of Guido Rodriguez, proof that success coming out of Liga MX is possible. He arrived from America in January 2020, won over the fans, lifted the Copa del Rey and eventually returned to the Premier League with West Ham after four and a half years at the club. He later moved on to West Ham and then came back to Spain with Valencia. The comparison makes clear that not everything that shines in Mexico is a guarantee of success in Seville, though it doesn't doom a player from the start either.