Riquelme says he turned down offers to stay at Betis

Rodrigo Riquelme says he received several offers during the summer, while never considering leaving Real Betis. “There were offers this summer, but I did not want to leave,” he said.

The Madrid-born player has begun the 2026-27 season at a much higher level than in his first campaign at Betis, when he did not meet expectations. He already has two goals and one assist across La Liga and the Champions League, matching his entire output from last season in those two competitions. In the Cup, he added five goals against lower-division opponents: two against Palma del Río and three against Torrent.

Riquelme explains that change through a conversation with Manuel Pellegrini, which he describes as a turning point in his time at the club. The coach reportedly reminded him that his talent and abilities had to translate more consistently on the pitch. The player says he then decided to work towards that and gradually took steps forward. According to Riquelme, Pellegrini highlighted his pace, ability to beat opponents one-on-one, combine with teammates, pass and shoot.

The player also addressed the criticism he received last season over his limited output. He believes it was sometimes unfair given the context of his situation, while insisting that he is no longer affected by either praise or negative judgments.

On the possibility of a transfer, Riquelme says he was clear with his brother, his agent, as well as Fede: he did not want to leave Betis. He speaks of his deep gratitude towards the club and the positive feelings he had during the final two months of last season. In his view, it was time to fight for his place within a project he considered highly attractive because of the Champions League. He says he saw himself as a Champions League player and chose to stay and fight for the club.