Carles Alena will see out the second half of the 2019/20 season at the Estadio Benito Villamarin after joining Real Betis on a six-month loan from Barcelona.

There is no option to buy included in the deal, while Betis will pay 100 per cent of the 21-year-old’s salary during the loan spell.

The La Liga champions made this known in a statement on the club’s official website on Saturday.

The statement read:

“FC Barcelona and Real Betis have reached an agreement for the loan transfer of Carles Aleñá until the end of the season. Real Betis will take over the player’s registration, but the agreement doesn’t include any purchase option.

“The player from Mataró arrived at FC Barcelona at U8 level and his quality saw him make his way up through each category until he reached the first team. His debut with Barça was very special. In the 2016/17 Copa del Rey against Hércules, he scored a great goal that meant a draw for the Catalans.

“In total, he has played 39 games with the first team, in which he has scored three goals.”

Barcelona’s idea is for Alena to return to the Camp Nou in order to compete for a first-team spot next season.

Despite allowing him to go out on loan, there is still confidence in the La Masia graduate from the club’s directors.

Alena always had it in his mind that he wanted to join Betis, a club that also wanted to sign him in the summer.

However, Getafe also bid for the playmaker and their offer was considered by Barcelona as they are a team who are playing in Europe, while it would have seen Alena link up with a good friend of his, Marc Cucurella.

Regardless, Alena is now a Betis player for the next six months and he will immediately start training with Rubi’s team as he looks to be available to face Alaves on January 5.