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Betis snap up striker

Real Betis have beaten off stiff competition to complete the signing of Rafael Sobis.

Real Betis have beaten off stiff competition to complete the signing of Brazilian striker Rafael Sobis.

Last week it appeared that the 21-year-old had agreed to join Racing Santander after confirming he was moving to Spain.

However, despite Racing's best efforts, Sobis has now committed himself to Betis, where he is likely to be a replacement for Ricardo Oliveira.

Oliveira fell out with the club after returning late from a loan spell in Brazil and is now poised to move to Milan.

Interestingly, the Italians were another of the clubs chasing Sobis, but appear to have settled instead on pushing through a deal for Oliveira.

Sobis joins Betis from reigning Copa Libertadoes champions Internacional de Porto Alegre and would appear a shrewd purchase, with the Brazilian youth international tipped to gain his first senior call-up in the not too distant future.

The youngster spoke of his delight at joining Betis and insisted he would work hard to prove a success for his new employers.

"I am very happy to have signed for Betis," he stated. "I can't promise goals, but lots of hard work. I want to succeed at Betis."

The Spaniards look like making it a double swoop on Internacional with left winger Jorge Wagner also poised to pitch up at the Estadio Ruiz de Lopera.

A deal between the two clubs has been agreed and the 28-year-old will fly to Spain on Tuesday with a view to concluding the move.