One of two very late transfers green lit by West Ham United during the last transfer window, the move taking Pablo Fornals to Real Betis eventually earned the Hammers a nice ?8m sum.
A lot of drama ensued on February 2nd over whether the move would be approved, but all was well for the Spaniard and his new team, who are already reaping the benefits of a successful January.
Signing Johnny Cardoso from Internacional in Brazil, Chimy Avila from Osasuna, Cédric Bakambu from Galatasaray and Fornals from West Ham, the LaLiga side have seen all four of them contribute in one way or another since their arrival, which ABC Sevilla take a look at on Tuesday.
The newspaper look at what each have done since their arrival, and focus a bit on the former Hammers man, as Real Betis eventually convinced the Premier League side to let him go. They point out he scored a ?very good goal? against Cádiz and is already a ?reference player? for manager Manuel Pellegrini in a few positions.
In fact, Real Betis are ?very proud? to have managed to sign the 28-year-old from West Ham, seeing him as a ?market opportunity? for a player of ?high quality? still at a ?competitive age?.
It?s revealed the work to get him to the LaLiga side had been going on ?for months?, and it was the player himself who worked with the Hammers to get the transfer over the line, agreeing to ?significantly reduce? his wages to make the move.
A gesture of good will that Betis are seemingly very grateful for, which is why they ...