Nelson Deossa: a miner to strengthen Betis

"Don't touch that waltz, because it still hurts," says a fan of Club de Fútbol Monterrey Rayados when asked about Nelson Deossa . "If a player who has everything leaves, they've left you with nothing." Real Betis has signed a ubiquitous footballer. He drives and finishes. He assists and sweeps. He joins the attack and returns disciplined to take his place in midfield. He's not the natural replacement for Johnny Cardoso ; he's something more. He aims to be something more.

Deossa was born in Marmato, Colombia, in 2000. His town is located in a gold-producing region of the country. At the age when other kids are competing and beginning their European adventures, he was working in the mine. He never knew grassroots football; the sport was merely a way to breathe life into his youth academy between shifts. But his quality, his barely polished talent, led him to make his debut with Atlético Huila. He was two weeks shy of his 21st birthday. He played nine minutes. His team won by a landslide against Bogotá. Then he put away his helmet, finally put on his boots, and began to shine.

From there, he made the jump to Estudiantes de La Plata, Junior de Barranquilla, Atlético Nacional (where he was a league champion), Pachuca (where he added a Concacaf Champions League title to his list of achievements), and finally Monterrey, which signed him with the Club World Cup in mind. A global showcase that put him on the agenda of many teams across the Old Continent.

His arrival in Andalusia comes after dazzling performances in a handful of matches for Infantino's team. A spectacular 33-yard goal against Urawa Red Diamonds, he made good use of his starting spots, and was included in the group stage's All-Star XI, key to Rayados' progress in the initial phase against rivals such as Inter Milan and River Plate. Deossa is an example of talent forged against the current. With little training, but with a lot of heart, intuition, and fortitude.

Wear and tear

His training is evident in his style of play. He struggles, drives with more conviction than finesse, shoots unpredictably, and wears himself out in any area of the field. You'd say he's a box-to-box player if that term hadn't already baptized so many clumsy players in modern football. He's a firm believer, likes to dance after scoring a goal; he's a young man facing the biggest challenge of his career.

At Rayados, he had a consecrated semester: 29 matches, seven goals, one assist, and absolute leadership in the dressing room led by Domènec Torrent . Real Betis brought him in as a key replacement following the departures of Cardoso and Carvalho, given the inconsistencies of Altimira and the limited participation of Marc Roca . Manuel Pellegrini 's team lacked composure in the midfield and consistency when the opposition attacked. A central pillar, a stopper for Isco to shine, an undetectable element capable of turning a game around.

Deossa arrives with the label of a versatile player, left-footed, 1.78 meters tall, with physical prowess, suffocating pressure, recovery ability, and a chance to arrive from the second line. He has crisp, long-range shots and the ability to distribute the game with composure and a keen eye. That's why it hasn't been easy. Monterrey rejected offer after offer until they reached the desired 15 million.

With a contract until 2030, Deossa presents himself at Villamarín as a strange footballer, forged outside the usual channels. "My goal has always been to work hard to earn a place and contribute to the team, no matter what field or under what circumstances. That's what has brought me here," he said in one of his last statements defending the Monterrey jersey. Betis isn't just signing a promising midfielder; it's incorporating an unexpected model, unfiltered football, like a golden find hidden in the heart of the mountains.