Morocco attacker Abde Ezzalzouli resumes training after recovering from ankle injury

Real Betis winger Abde Ezzalzouli has returned to group training as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury that sidelined him for over three months.

The Morocco international joined his teammates during Wednesday’s session after spending the summer performing individual drills to rebuild fitness.

The 22-year-old sustained the injury in the Conference League final against Chelsea, forcing him to miss the entire pre-season and the opening fixtures of the La Liga campaign.

Abde is not expected to feature in Sunday’s clash with Levante, with manager Manuel Pellegrini confirming he will need more time before returning to competitive action.

Club sources indicate that the winger requires “at least a couple of weeks” to complete his rehabilitation, potentially making his comeback during Betis’ upcoming sequence of three consecutive home matches at La Cartuja later this month.

The schedule begins with a La Liga fixture against Real Sociedad on Friday, September 19, followed by a Europa League encounter with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, September 24, and a home game against Osasuna on Sunday, September 28.

Betis then face a demanding run of fixtures, including an away trip to Ludogorets in the Europa League on October 2 and a league match at Espanyol on October 5, before the La Liga season pauses for the international break.

The club hopes Abde will be fit to feature before the break, contingent on how his ankle responds to increased training loads.

His return is considered crucial for Pellegrini’s side, who are balancing domestic ambitions with European commitments.

Since joining Betis from Barcelona in the summer of 2023 for €7.5 million, Abde’s absence has been felt, with the team relying heavily on Nabil Fekir and Ayoze Pérez for creativity.

Betis are expected to proceed cautiously, prioritising the winger’s full recovery rather than rushing him back into action.