Valentín Gómez leaves Vélez, and there's an impact on River Plate and Boca Juniors: "He exercised his release clause."

Valentín Gómez is one of the best defenders in Argentine football. Or rather, he was. Because his future lies far from Vélez and also from the Argentine first division. The left-footer, who was once close to donning the River Plate jersey and was a subject of interest at Boca Juniors , will continue his career at Betis in Spain .

"Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield informs that Valentín Gómez exercised the release clause provided for in his employment contract and under the terms agreed upon with the Club. The player also granted the Club a 10% stake in any future sale," Vélez announced on Friday.

"The full terms of the transaction will be announced by the Club once the transfer market concludes, as is customary. Much success in this new phase, Valen!" Fortín added on social media, bidding farewell to one of its best players.

Although Vélez hasn't made it official, the defender's destination is already known. "Official. Valentín Gómez has exercised a clause to terminate his contract with Vélez and thus sign for Real Betis. Real Betis will make his signing official until 2030 in the next few hours," said Spanish journalist Gustavo Tortosa of El Chiringuito.

Valentín Gómez, one of the best defenders in Argentine football, was on the radar of both Boca Juniors and River Plate. Xeneize pursued him last year, although River Plate came closest to signing him, as they had an agreement with City Group to sign him as a partnership. However, he failed the medical and his transfer fell through.

Gómez spoke about his failed move to River Plate and expressed some anger over the club's treatment. "I was reading that I had a good relationship with River Plate, but that's not the case. When the transfer fell through, the only one who called me was my dad; after that, no one called me. It's not good when things like that happen; a call would have been the logical thing to do. But it was the best thing for everyone. In the meantime, they fired the coach, and I understood," he said in an interview with ESPN.

This year, Valentín Gómez was close to leaving for Brazilian football in January, but there was no final agreement between the management of Vélez and Cruzeiro . Now, finally, the third opportunity for a move for the defender would be given. Not to Boca Juniors, not to River Plate, and not to Feyenoord , who were close to finalizing the deal a few weeks ago. He will go to Betis.