Barcelona’s Carles Alena admits he is open to Betis stay: ‘I’m very happy here’

On-loan Barcelona starlet Carles Alena has admitted that he is not opposed to the idea of extending his time with Real Betis beyond the finish of the campaign.

Barca prodigy

Alena, a gifted 22-year-old midfielder, is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy.

After impressing throughout the fledgling years of his career, the youngster was subsequently fast-tracked into the first-team picture of the Blaugrana for the first time in 2016.

Alena had long been considered a star in the making by those in charge at the Camp Nou, with his technical attributes and ability to ghost by opposing players having seen the Spaniard likened to Barca legend Andres Iniesta.

Last season proved Alena’s most productive to date in terms of game-time, as the midfielder racked up 17 La Liga appearances, including 6 starts.

However, after being handed a starting berth by Ernesto Valverde in the Catalan giants’ La Liga opener this time around, bafflingly, the Spanish U21 international was hooked after 45 minutes, and subsequently frozen out until December.

As such, it came as little surprise when confirmation that Alena had been farmed out on loan was forthcoming ahead of the opening of the winter transfer window.

The midfielder made the move to Real Betis on loan for the remainder of the campaign:

NEWS UPDATE: Deal with @RealBetis_en for @Carlesale10.

➕DETAILS👇https://t.co/AnFmsoRE5O

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 28, 2019

‘I love it’

And Alena’s time at the Benito Villamarín Stadium has since unsurprisingly proven considerably more fruitful than his opening half to the season.

The 22-year-old has featured in 8 of Betis’ last 9 La Liga outings, a run which included impressive displays versus the likes of Real Sociedad and Leganes.

As such, though he has yet to showcase his brilliant best on a consistent basis as part of Rubi’s squad, questions have already begun to circulate regarding the possibility of Alena remaining with Betis beyond the end of his loan this summer.

And, as outlined above, if the latest comments on the part of the Spaniard himself are anything to go by, such an option cannot be ruled out.

Speaking in an interview with the Verdiblancos’ official radio station, Alena was drawn on his future at the club, with the talented midfielder having admitted that he cannot ‘close the door’ on a Betis stay:

‘It would be crazy to close the door on Betis.’

‘I’m very happy [here], I love it. I had my first child here and I’m delighted by how I have been treated by the club and the players.’

‘I have thought about the future, but only in the matches left (until the end of the season). I don’t want to look beyond the match against Sevilla.’

Quotes via the Evening Standard

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