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We previously reported that it was likely, and now it’s official: Antonio Sanabria, the Roma striker that Spurs were reportedly interested in, has signed with La Liga side Real Betis on a five year deal.
OFICIAL | Antonio Sanabria, séptimo refuerzo para el Real Betis #SoloHechos
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis) July 15, 2016
➡️ https://t.co/WpxYAmcYg6 pic.twitter.com/9k9n4N92C0
This is fine. You never really got the impression that Sanabria, a young Paraguayan striker who spent the year on loan at Sporting Gijon last season, was anything but an in-case-of-emergency-break-glass kind of signing. It became obvious pretty quickly that the emergency in question was the collapse of talks for Vincent Janssen.
There was some question too whether Spurs might continue to go after Sanabria or a Sanabria-like substance with a huge upside that could develop over the period of a couple of years, but it seemed unlikely. Spurs have two strikers in Harry Kane and Janssen, and a small cadre of players who CAN play up front if needed. That should be enough. I’d be shocked if Spurs sign another forward in the window who’s not a development player.
Sanabria will likely have to compete with Betis’ 18-goal striker Reubén Castro next season, but should hopefully get plenty of minutes. Betis finished 10th in the La Liga table last season.