Crystal Palace have reached an agreement over personal terms with Real Betis defender Chadi Riad ahead of a summer move.
Chadi Riad, 20, joined Real Betis from Barcelona last summer and made 30 appearances in the recently concluded 2023/24 season, helping Manuel Pellegrini’s side finish seventh in the La Liga table. Born in Majorca but has two caps for Morocco, the left-footed defender enjoyed a standout campaign at the Benito Villamarin and unsurprisingly his strong performances haven’t gone unnoticed.
Crystal Palace are reportedly set to seal Riad’s signature in a deal worth up to £ 14 million. They are expected to make the two-cap Moroccan international their first summer signing, as the Eagles aim to build on their strong finish to the season under new Oliver Glasner and strengthen for next term. This move not only demonstrated the South London club’s ambitions but also cast doubt over the future of skipper Marc Guehi amidst growing interest from top Premier League outfits.
Marc Guehi wanted by Manchester United and Liverpool
Chadi Riad’s potential move to Crystal Palace could signal an exit for Marc Guehi, who is on the radar of Manchester United and Liverpool.
Guehi is seen by Manchester United as an alternative target to English compatriot Jarrad Branthwaite if they fail to entice Everton to sell their star defender for around £55m. With Raphael Varane confirmed to leave Old Trafford upon the expiry of his contract next month, Jonny Evans past his prime and Harry Maguire’s future up in the air, the Red Devils are eyeing a new central defender and the Palace skipper fits the bill perfectly.
Similarly, Liverpool are also in the hunt for defensive reinforcements after announcing the departure of Joel Matip. Ibrahima Konate is injury prone while Jarrell Quansah still needs time to become a regular first-choice defender, so the Reds could do well by bringing in Guehi to partner Virgil van Dijk next season.
Crystal Palace closing in on Chadi Riad
Chadi Riad’s arrival at Selhurst Park is expected to be the first of many exciting acquisitions under the tutelage of Oliver Glasner. Last season’s strong end has set a positive tone, and with Riad possibly joining Glasner’s ranks, the Eagles could be set for big things next term.
A left-footed centre-back, Riad’s transition from Barcelona’s youth system to first-team football at Real Betis and now hypothetically to Palace proves his capability, growing reputation and potential. The Moroccan international has the skill-set and physicality to shore up the Palace backline whilst being a strong partner for Joachim Andersen.
By investing in a dynamic, promising talent like Riad, Glasner is helping the Eagles lay the foundation for sustained success in the future.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
