On-loan Barcelona talent Chadi Riad has today provided an insight into his future.
Stopper Riad, for his part, secured a departure from Catalunya last summer, when he was snapped up by La Liga rivals Real Betis as part of a season-long loan.
And, safe to say, his stint at the Estadio Benito Villamarín has since proven a thoroughly productive one.
Riad, all told, has featured from the off in 13 of Betis’ league outings, despite having spent well over a month of the campaign on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
Not only that, but across these fixtures, he has not emerged on the losing side from a single one.
Still just 20 years of age, it has in turn been suggested that the powers that be at Barcelona are keeping a close eye on the club’s young stopper, with a view to next season.
Riad’s deal with Betis features an option to buy, but his parent club boast a buyback option, too, meaning his future, as things stand, remains up in the air.
Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo this week, it therefore came as little surprise when the subject of his plans beyond the summer was put to the defender himself.
Riad, though, appears fully focused on matters in Heliópolis, having explained:
“I am focused on the present, because if you put your mind on other things, you end up losing concentration and things end up going wrong. My mind is on the day to day. Betis is now my team. I am going to give 100% for this team and continue. Then, if other things come, we will have to decide. For now, I am focused on the present.”
Pressed further on the prospect of a move back to Barcelona, he continued:
“I only have Betis in mind. Now Betis is my team and that’s it. If Barça will come later, I don’t know. It will come, or it won’t. Right now I am in the present at Betis.”
Conor Laird | GSFN
