Former Arsenal defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, now at Real Betis, is under the spotlight as he enters a critical month to prove his worth to the Spanish club.

Following Chadi Riad’s call-up to the Moroccan team, Sokratis’s role in Betis’s defence becomes increasingly significant.

As the Moroccan team calls up Chadi Riad, Greek centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos faces a pivotal month to demonstrate that Real Betis‘s decision to sign him was not a mistake.

Signed by Betis following the exit of Luiz Felipe and the injury of Bartra, Sokratis arrived as a crucial addition to a defence with limited options. The 35-year-old, previously with Olympiakos, initially saw a cooling in negotiations with Betis as he awaited a potential offer from Saudi Arabia.

Eventually, he adjusted his demands to align with Betis‘s, leading to his signing.

After stints in the Bundesliga and the Premier League, and having already played in the Copa del Rey, it’s now time for him to step up for Betis, writes AS.

Back in October when he signed, Sokratis said, “I’m going to need a little time, but when the coach and I see that I’m ready to debut, I’m going to do it one hundred percent. I am going to give more than what is expected of me,” reflecting his commitment to his new club.

His track record includes his time at Arsenal between 2018 and 2021, where he made 69 appearances, scored six goals, and provided two assists.

His stay at Arsenal was highlighted by an FA Cup win in the 2019-2020 season. Sokratis left Arsenal on a free transfer to Olympiakos in January 2021 after his contract was cancelled.

On joining Betis, Sokratis expressed gratitude towards former teammates Héctor Bellerín and Marc Bartra for their positive insights about Betis, stating, “They called me every day. They wanted me to come, they spoke very highly of the team, and that was one of the reasons why I am here.”

He didn’t comment on the reports of initially turning down Betis amidst interest from Bayern Munich.

As Betis battles to solidify their defence, Sokratis’s presence becomes more crucial. With only a month to prove his value, the Greek defender faces a significant challenge to showcase that he remains a vital asset at the top level of European football.

So far, he has played just seven minutes of La Liga football for Betis from six bench appearances.