Amrabat’s ankle shake-up: Betis’s winter mercato in limbo

Injury Update and Procedure

Real Betis announced, after the AFCON, that Sofyan Amrabat has been dealing with ankle pain since a hard collision with Isco in late November. The medical team, in coordination with the Morocco national team and Fenerbahçe, has decided to perform ankle arthroscopy in the Netherlands at the end of the week, with an expected absence spanning weeks to months.

The chosen path mirrors the approach Betis used with Isco Alarcon, but with a key difference: the interval between Isco’s late-December surgery and Amrabat’s procedure is longer, because Amrabat took part in AFCON and fought to rejoin the tournament. He played only the first two group-stage matches, which revealed the ankle injury was more serious than first thought.

Impact on Betis’ January Plans

Isco’s case had seen Betis pursuing a conservative route to avoid surgery, but for Amrabat the coming days mark the start of a treatment plan that will not only deprive Betis of a pivotal midfield presence but also constrain winter mercato activity. His absence reduces Betis’ leverage to move on players like Altimira in January and will shape priorities for new signings.

With Betis still contending on three fronts, parting with a midfield anchor while relying on other squad members is a significant risk. The club may need to pursue a substantial midfield addition and potentially target a striker to compete with Kucho Hernandez, affecting squad balance and the January budget. In short, this unusual injury case has delayed a quick resolution and complicated the club’s strategy in a window that is already tight. The calendar has a knack for throwing curveballs just when you think you’ve mapped out a plan.

Punchline 1: Looks like Betis’ bench will finally get some air time—air known to be free, but the patients in the medical room are cashing in minutes. Punchline 2: If football had a punch clock, Amrabat’s injury would clock in at “to be continued” for a few more weeks of drama.