Bayern Munich waiting defender finally joins Real Betis…signing until June 2024

After waiting for a call from Bayern Munich, Sokratis Papastathopoulos has signed with Real Betis.

Spanish Primera Liga side Real Betis announced on its official website on July 27 (KST), “The club signs Sokratis. The contract runs until 2024,” the club announced on its official website. 굿모닝토토

Sokratis once played for AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, and Arsenal, among others. His contract ended in July after he moved to Greek side Olympiakos during the 2020/21 season.

Since the end of his contract, Sokratis has been unable to find a team in the transfer market. He wanted to join Bayern Munich, who are currently thin at the back. The Bavarians are without their two main defenders, Matthias De Ligt and Dayo Upamecano.

The Bavarians have even played without a central defender. Munich played without a central defender in the first round of the German DFB-Pokal against Prussia Münster. Midfielder Goretzka and flanker Mazurawi combined at center back.

“Sokratis has rejected a move to Real Betis to join Bayern Munich,” Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, who is well versed in the German transfer market, said on July 17 (ET).

As a free agent, Sokratis could have joined regardless of whether the transfer market was open or not. He felt he could help the Munich defense. He wanted the jersey so badly that he turned down offers from other teams, but there was no negotiating table.

Despite being turned away, Real Betis still wanted Sokratis, believing that his experience would benefit the team. But Socrates couldn’t stay in Munich forever.

Eventually, Sokratis signed a contract with Real Betis. The contract runs until June 2024.