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‘He’s spectacular’: Teammate wowed by reported Arsenal and Liverpool target

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Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
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The “spectacular” Nabil Fekir has overcome his struggles at Real Betis and will soon become impossible to stop, teammate Emerson Royal has told Diario de Sevilla of the reported Arsenal and Liverpool target.

It’s no coincidence Manuel Pellegrini’s expensively assembled Betis side have gone from the depths of mid-table to the vertigo-inducing heights of sixth since their World Cup-winning talisman rediscovered his Midas touch.

Fekir has been a man reborn in recent weeks, producing a genuine goal of the season contender last time out, channelling his inner-Maradona to carve apart the Levante back line like a plump Christmas turkey.

Suddenly, the £26 million-rated France international is back in the gossip columns. He was never likely to be away for long.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool have been watching Fekir closely since the turn of the year.

“From Fekir everything can be expected. He has a lot of quality. For me, it is normal. I see him train and I know of his abilities. He is a spectacular player,” says Betis right-back Emerson, who believes the former Lyon ace has put those underwhelming displays from late 2020 behind him.

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

“(A dip in form) happens with all the players. Sometimes you try things and they don’t work out. Fekir has kept trying, we knew he could help us more.

“Now he has started scoring goals and is not going to stop.”

According to Goal, Fekir is Arsenal’s back-up option should Real Madrid opt to bring Martin Odegaard back to the Spanish capital at the the end of this season.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were on the verge of bringing Fekir to Anfield to the tune of £53 million three years ago, only to back out of a deal after discovering a problem during the playmaker’s medical (Guardian).

Having missed just seven of the last 66 La Liga matches through injury, those fitness problems appear to be a thing of the past.

Nabil Fekir of Real Betis Balompie runs with the ball as he is put under pressure by Thomas Lemar of Club Atletico de Madrid during the Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and Club… (Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)