Yahoo News Real Betis director quashes Alex Moreno transfer assumption
Real Betis sporting director Manu Fajardo confirms his meeting with Aston Villa's Alex Moreno at a Spanish airport was entirely coincidental, though says the club are still in the market for a left back.
As Villa have agreed a £37.5m fee with Chelsea for 22-year-old Ian Maatsen, Unai Emery looks to have found a starting left-sided full-back for many years to come. In turn it has sparked exit rumours for one - if not both - previous custodians of that role, as Moreno, 31, and Lucas Digne, 30, still remain at the club.
The Spaniard only arrived from Betis 18 months ago, though his former club's need to strengthen in his position have led to natural shouts of a homecoming. On Tuesday he was spotted at Seville airport speaking with Fajardo, adding fuel to the proverbial fire, though Los Verdiblancos' director has moved to immediately squash any assumptions from the outset.
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"The situation experienced yesterday with Alex Moreno is anecdotal," he was quoted as saying by Marca. "It happened that Romain [Perraud] and Alex came from the same destination and shared a flight.
"Obviously in football we all know each other, there is a relationship of respect and confidence and we talk above all about personal issues."
Former Southampton left back Perraud has been named Manuel Pellegrini's first signing of the summer, but Betis expect fellow options in that area of the pitch Juan Miranda and Abner Vinicius to leave in the coming months. So, although clarifying yesterday was a chance meeting, Fajardo didn't rule out any further talks of a more serious nature as he remains on the look-out for suitable players to 'complete' his side's business at left back.
He added: "Our obligation as Sports Management is to have the market controlled with different player profiles, different alternatives, to continue building with the coach's hand, we have to complete the left back position and we work in various scenarios."
