Junior Firpo pulled on the green and white of Real Betis once again on Wednesday evening as the left-back made his second debut for the Spanish side, following his Leeds United exit.
Firpo left Leeds after four years in June, with his contract coming to an end. Leeds had offered Firpo new terms, but the terms offered by Leeds were a lot less than the contract Firpo initially signed in 2021.
In a farewell video, Firpo said it was impossible for him to sign on again with Leeds. The left-back has since re-signed with Manuel Pellegrini’s Europa Conference League finalists, six years after leaving.
Firpo was not absent for Betis’ first pre-season game of the summer, a 4-3 win over Cordoba. But he was in action for Betis on Wednesday night, drawing 1-1 with Frank Lampard’s Coventry at the CBS Arena.
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesCoventry City gem scores against Firpo’s Betis after Leeds links
In a close affair, it was actually Coventry that took the lead before Firpo came on at half-time to make his second Betis debut, albeit in a non-competitive fixture. Coventry capitalised on a Betis mistake to score.
This summer, Leeds have been linked with Coventry playmaker Jack Rudoni. Lampard’s no.5 netted after reading Rodrigo Riquelme’s under-hit back-pass before rounding Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez to score.
Teenage attacker Pablo Garcia equalised for the Spaniards with a thunderbolt from 25 yards and Firpo was actually involved, laying on the pre-assist before Garcia lashed home a glorious effort to score.
Why Leeds are interested in signing Jack Rudoni this summer…
For Leeds, the priority in the transfer market remains to be a new striker. The need for a left-sided winger also remains after missing out on Igor Paixao, while Leeds need to sign a replacement for Isaac Schmidt.
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But if Daniel Farke is to stick with his 4-2-3-1 system, he will need a new no.10 to provide competition for Brenden Aaronson. After 23 goals and assists for Coventry last season, Rudoni is being linked with Leeds.
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Leeds are not the only side interested. Newcastle have been told Rudoni will cost £30m, after Sunderland received £27.8m for Jobe Bellingham. Coventry are using Bellingham’s move as a yard-stick for Rudoni.
Meanwhile, for Firpo, Betis play Sunderland on Saturday before returning to face Cesc Fabregas’ Como. Firpo’s competitive debut will come on the same night Leeds play Everton, with Betis taking on Elche.