La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are plotting a move for Real Betis and Algeria central defender Aissa Mandi, according to Estadio Deportivo.
Diego Simeone is said to be impressed by the passing accuracy of Mandi as a defender, which has been higher than the likes of Toni Kroos and Ivan Rakitic this season. Mandi could be a potential replacement for Diego Godin, if he departs the capital city club to Inter Milan.
The Algerian international has been playing in La Liga since making his move from French side Reims a few years ago, where he has turned into a central defender after beginning his career as a right-back.
The 27-year-old has helped Real Betis to the last 32 of this season's Europa League, and Betis rejected a bid of €14 million from West Ham in the summer. Mandi helped Algeria reach the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup, and started against eventual world champions Germany in the tournament back in Brazil. Arsenal have also been linked with the defender.
Mandi certainly has the experience of playing in Spain at a high level. Atletico were also recently linked with fellow Algerian defender Youcef Attal. Follow all the Algerian football transfers in English with DZ Football.
AlgerianGriezmann8
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Yes! Mandi is extremely underrated we can get him for cheap. This would be a good move, especially if Godin is leaving, though that would be the worst case