Andalusian love song: Nabil Fakir leads Betis to historic season Israel today

Summer 2018. 25-year-old Nabil Fakir wins to be part of the French team's victory in the World Cup in Russia.

The contact helped Tricolor regain his title after 20 years and realized it was the right time to leave the greenhouse of Lyon, the city where he grew up and where he became one of the most talked about talents in Europe.

Liverpool made a quick move to sign him, but at the last minute canceled, claiming that Fakir had a chronic problem in his knee and did not pass the tests.

The move hit him hard as other groups recoiled from joining.

A year later, in a surprising move, Real Betis dared to gamble on him, and two and a half years later, Fakir leads her to one of her greatest seasons in the last generation.

In 25 games in La Liga, Fakir is responsible for more than a quarter of the Andalusians' goals (47) with 6 goals and 6 assists on the way to third place in the table, and an excellent chance to play in the Champions League next season.

The Greens are close to qualifying for the Copa del Rey final (1: 2 over Rayo Vallecano in the first game of the semi-final) and will play in the last 16 of the Europa League against Frankfurt.

Abandoned in action.

Peak season, Photo: Getty Images

Fakir has become a fan favorite in "Benito Weimarin", he gets freedom of action from his coach Manuel Pellegrini, the game goes through him and according to the "AS" he loses less balls this season, improved the delivery and more decisive in the last strip.

He also proves that the role of the classic playmaker has not completely disappeared from the world.

"From day one I fell in love with this club, the fans, the city and its people. We have a great time, but I want more," he told the team's official website, "I am told I am a genius, but I only know how to play good football when I have fun."

Contracts are not something that can not be broken, but despite interest from Newcastle - the new richest in the football world - and rumors of a move to Barcelona, ​​Fakir has signed a long-term contract until 2026 proving how much he and his family have connected with Sevilla and how much he enjoys the team.

For so many years he had hoped to be a leader, and now that he had received what he wanted, he was unwilling to give up.

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Ha dicho sí. @ NabilFekir pic.twitter.com/i188ItCRMr

- Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) January 12, 2022

In addition to his abilities, Fakir learned to control his hot temper, which he had previously criticized in France, and with success he also seems to have softened.

"We showed Nabil that what we offered him came true," says Betis' professional manager Alex Trujillo. "We want him to feel important, to continue to enjoy and be happy here with his family. We are very proud to have an actor like him."

In the last 15 years Betis fans have suffered greatly when they saw Sevilla gain momentum in European football, become a top team and win the Europa League six times (UEFA Cup). The city rival overtook them in terms of recognition, and if that was not enough, they did not see their team Winner of a league derby from September 2018.

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Para leaves and bucle.

Qué barbaridad. @ NabilFekir # ElGranDerbi pic.twitter.com/8bnsBR8zIo

- Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) January 16, 2022

The Verde Blancos always claim to be Andalusia's biggest club - an argument backed by their 46,374 subscribers.

About a month and a half ago in a stormy home derby in the quarterfinals of the cup, which was stopped and lasted the next day, Betis regained her honor when she won 1: 2 and passed a stage.

Fakir scored a crazy goal from the corner and proved that in the big moments when he needs it, he rises.

Today, in an away derby, he will want to ruin Sevilla's ambitions to stick with Real Madrid in the championship race, and continue to show that he and his teammates can face Julen Luftaghi's side.

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