Leeds United could miss out on £10m+ payment as Marc Roca twist emerges
Real Betis will only have the option of signing Marc Roca for £10.4million (€12m) at the end of the season if Leeds United are promoted to the Premier League, according to Estadio Deportivo.
The Spanish outlet reported the news on its online edition on Wednesday (8 November) in an interview with the 26-year-old, who is set to be called up by Spain once again for their upcoming matches.
It had previously been reported that Betis would consider triggering the right-to-buy clause in Roca's contract at the end of the campaign [TEAMtalk, 2 October], but it may not be as straightforward as that.
The Estadio Deportivo report read: "Betis saved a purchase option that amounts to 12 million Euros.
"Apart from this price agreed in their contract, the clubs closed a verbal agreement to be able to extend the loan in case the English team failed to be promoted to the Premier League at the end of this season. All three parties are happy with the operation."
Roca will almost certainly remain a Real Betis player next season, but the question is whether Leeds receive an eight-figure payment for the midfielder or not.
It is fair to say Leeds supporters would be more than happy to see the back of the Spaniard, especially if it means recouping the full amount paid to sign him from Bayern Munich in June 2022.
If the Whites fail to earn promotion, though, then Betis will take Roca on loan for another season without paying United. That quite simply does not benefit Leeds in any way.
Come the end of the 2024-25 season, Roca will have just one year left to run on his Elland Road contract, and his valuation may therefore diminish.
The aim for Daniel Farke's side this season has always been to earn promotion - arguably even more so now if it means getting rid of Roca and receiving a £10m-plus fee in the process.