New Al-Ittihad sporting director Ramon Planes has posted his farewell to Real Betis.
Planes' move to the Saudis was confirmed yesterday.
In a farewell letter to Beticos, he stated:
"First of all, I want to thank Ángel Haro, José Miguel López Catalán and their board of directors for having given me the opportunity to live the experience of being the sports director of a club as big as Real Betis Balompié. I have been in football for many years and I have been passionate about the magnitude and strength of this entity.
"From the first day I have only had facilities from all the club's workers. If I want to highlight something, it is the great human value of all the people who make up the green and white family, from the coach to any Betis worker. I have felt that same affection in the streets of Seville from the Betis fans, valuing the work we have done during these months.
"I completely understand that the fans may be surprised by my departure. I have always lived my profession to the fullest in all the clubs I have been in and I have done so here, dedicating all my hours, my experience and my love to trying to build a better Betis from my place. For that same reason I have to have professional and family responsibility to make a painful decision and face the challenge of living a new work experience in an emerging football.
"I would like to have a memory and a special thank you to all the people who have lived with me on a daily basis. I tell the Beticos that the sporting future of the club is in very good hands, both in the area of the technical secretariat and in the management of the first team. For me it has been a great pleasure to work with Manuel Pellegrini and the members of his coaching staff. I want to highlight the great group of people in our first team, who will surely achieve the objectives set for this season. Thank you very much to all of them.
"Finally, I can only tell the fans that they are the best that Real Betis Balompié has and that they continue to support the team with the same passion at all times. It will be impossible to forget the atmosphere I experienced at the Benito Vilamarín Stadium.
"Thank you very much and Mucho Betis."
