La Liga defender leaves the door open for Barcelona return amid transfer links

Earlier this week, reports emerged claiming that Barcelona want to re-sign defender Chadi Riad from La Liga rivals Real Betis.

The Moroccan centre-back left Barça for Manuel Pellegrini’s side last summer, on loan with an obligation to buy. But the Blaugrana also retained a 50% future sell-on clause, along with a buyback option for the defender, worth €7 million.

Even though there are several centre-backs already at the club, it is being claimed that Barcelona intend to activate the €7 million repurchase clause for Riad in the summer.

Riad focused on Betis, but door open for return

Riad is aware of the speculations linking him with a move back to Barcelona in the summer and was asked about the same during an interview with BeSoccer (h/t SPORT).

In response, the young defender insisted he is focused on Real Betis at this point, but did not definitively close the door on the possibility of a return to Barça.

“I only have Betis on my mind. Now Betis is my team and that’s it. If Barça will come later, I don’t know. They’ll come, or not. Right now I’m in the present at Betis,” he said.

The 20-year-old insisted that he is focused on his game and not getting dragged into the speculations, saying:

“I simply work day by day. I’m focused on the present because if you put your mind on other things, you end up losing concentration and things end up going wrong.

“Betis is my team now and I’m going to give 100 per cent for this team and keep going. Then, if other things come along, then we’ll have to decide. For the moment, I’m focused on the present.”