Ex-Man.City goalkeeper Bravo pens one-year Betis contract

Madrid: Former Manchester City goalkeeper Claudio Bravo signed a one-year deal with Real Betis in Spain on Sunday, the La Liga club announced.

It will be the Chilean’s third spell in Spain having previously played for Real Sociedad for eight years and spending two seasons at Barcelona.

The 37-year-old signed for Man City in 2016 and played in two Premier League title-winning squads.

Betis finished five points above the relegation zone last season with the second-worst defensive record in the league.

They conceded 60 goals in 38 matches; only relegated Real Mallorca (65) leaked more.

Meanwhile, Ciro Immobile, who won the Golden Shoe as top scorer in Europe’s top divisions last season, has extended his contract with Lazio until 2025, the club said on Monday.

Immobile, who is 30, had the best league scoring season of his career, hitting 36 goals, 14 of them penalties, to lift Lazio to fourth place in Serie A.

“With this choice, Immobile has opted for Lazio for life,” said Stefano De Martino, Lazio’s communications director on the club’s website.

Immobile had previously finished top scorer in Serie A in 2013-14 with Torino and 2017-18 with Lazio, when he tied for first with Mauro Icardi.

He was previously under contract until 2023.

For Immobile “it’s a professional, sentimental and family choice” said Lazio adding that they intends “to consolidate what was done last season before further improving the squad.”

Elsewhere, Kai Havertz is probably going to Chelsea while Kevin Volland is almost certainly about to sign for Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz said on Monday.

Bosz said he “does not expect” either to return after the international break before adding: “in soccer, it can always fail in the end”.

Havertz, a 21-year-old attacking midfielder who made his international debut two years ago, is one of the most exciting young talents in the German game.

Before the coronavirus crisis, Leverkusen were asking 100 million euros (120 million dollars) for Havertz.

Chelsea have already acquired another Bundesliga star, Leipzig striker Timo Werner, for an estimated 53 million euros.

Striker Volland, who is 28, has 10 Germany caps and has scored 44 Bundesliga goals in four seasons in Leverkusen.

Meanwhile, Japan international Yuto Nagatomo is expected to sign for Marseille on a free transfer to provide cover for left-back Jordan Amavi, coach Andre Villas-Boas said on Sunday.

Agence France-Presse