Felipe Gutierrez’s arrival at Real Betis has been marred by the news that the midfielder will not be available until mid-August.
Gutierrez joined from Twente on Wednesday for a reported €2.5m, the Chilean having signed a four-year contract.
However, Marca cites claims from Betis’ medical team that he will not be ready until shortly before the new season starts on the weekend of August 20-21.
This is because Gutierrez had undergone surgery on his right knee in May, which proved a success, and Betis have since put the player on a specialised training programme.
Cristiano Piccini, meanwhile, has returned to training for Betis after finally recovering from cruciate ligament damage.
