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With Real Betis Goal, Mexico Teen Diego Lainez Shows He Is The Real Deal

With Real Betis Goal, Mexico Teen Diego Lainez Shows He Is The Real Deal

Mexico's Diego Lainez made the jump to La Liga, signing with Real Betis, and his debut has been promising.

Feb 15, 2019 by Graham Ruthven
With Real Betis Goal, Mexico Teen Diego Lainez Shows He Is The Real Deal

His name had appeared in countless scouting reports and in lists of soccer’s “next big thing.” Of course, such recognition at such a young age can be a curse rather than a blessing. The sport has witnessed the downfall of numerous wunderkinds before they could even fulfill their potential as fully fledged superstars. Freddy Adu, anyone?

Diego Lainez looks to be the real thing, though. Still a teenager when he helped Club America to record-breaking Liga MX title last season, the Mexican made the move to Real Betis last month, signing a long term five-and-a-half-year deal with the Spanish La Liga outfit. It’s the perfect place for him to grow and develop.

The rise of Real Betis has been one of the most compelling storylines in Spanish soccer this season. Under Quique Setien, they have become an exhilarating outfit to watch, a symbol of fast and furious, modern soccer. What’s more, Stein is delivering results, with Real Betis in the hunt for a European place and on the brink of a place in the Copa del Rey final.



Lainez, who scored his first Real Betis goal in dramatic fashion on Thursday, netting a late equalizer in the Europa League, still has a lot of progress to make. He wasn’t even a nailed on starter for Club America, but needs game time at Real Betis to make strides forward. The 18-year-old will find it physically tough in Spain. He will also have to improve from a defensive standpoint, with Setien expecting his attackers to help out tracking back.

However, Real Betis are a club that will harness the talent of Lainez and Setien is a coach who knows how to get the best out of attacking talent—see Giovani Lo Celso’s success on loan from Paris Saint-Germain this season. It was bold of Lainez to make the jump to Europe at such a young age, but he has the platform to become a Mexican icon.


Graham Ruthven is a soccer writer based in the U.K. He has written for the New York Times, Guardian, Eurosport, Bleacher Report and others.