Real Betis Close Deal for Cercle Brugge Left-Back Nazinho

Real Betis will sign Portuguese left-back Flávio Nazinho from Cercle Brugge. The deal is for €6 million plus add-ons and includes a sell-on clause.

WHAT IS THE TRANSFER?

Nazinho, 22, has been a top player for Cercle Brugge since he joined from Sporting CP in 2024. He stood out in the Belgian league last season, making 37 appearances, scoring once, and providing six assists. There was interest from Roma, Real Sociedad, and Celtic, but Betis acted quickly to secure the transfer. The Spanish club will pay €6m up front, with potential further payments based on performance and a percentage of any future sale reserved for Cercle Brugge. Sporting CP, his former club, will also receive a share of the profit from this transfer.

REAL BETIS AND NAZINHO: THIS SEASON’S FORM

Real Betis finished the 2024/25 La Liga season in sixth position, qualifying for the Europa League. Their defense was a key area needing reinforcement as the team reached the Conference League final where they lost to Chelsea. Their left-back area saw several players rotating during the season. Meanwhile, Nazinho was impressive for Cercle Brugge at the start of this campaign as he registered one assist in four matches before the deal was finalized. He appeared 37 times in his Belgian journey, scoring once and registering six assists in all competitions. He also impressed with Portugal U21 in the recent European Championships.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Betis are set to unveil Nazinho as their newest signing before their next La Liga match against Alavés. Betis drew with Elche their opener, a disappointing and unexpected result. Betis are aiming to return to European football, trailing seventh place by only one point. Their next opponent, Alavés, won their opener against Levante and have a solid defensive record. Nazinho is expected to quickly challenge for a starting spot, with his attacking style and stamina seen as a good fit for Betis’ tactical approach. Meanwhile, Cercle Brugge will now have to replace a key player as they chase a top-six finish in Belgium this year.