Cristian Tello

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Tello's arrival at Betis in the summer of 2017 marked a homecoming of sorts to Spanish football after one and a half seasons in Portugal with Porto and as many in Italy with Fiorentina. He made his debut from the bench on 25 August 2017 in a 2–1 home win over RC Celta de Vigo. His first goal came on 15 October 2017 as a consolation in a 6–3 loss to Valencia CF at the Estadio Benito Villamarín. On 30 November 2017, he netted twice in a 5–3 defeat (6–5 aggregate) to fellow Andalusians Cádiz CF in the last 32 of the domestic cup. Tello scored four league goals in each of his first two seasons. In 2019–20 he rarely started under manager Rubi and was linked to January moves to Espanyol or Celta; he stayed and scored the late winner against Real Madrid on 8 March 2020. Tello scored five goals in 2020–21. On 22 May 2021, as the campaign ended with qualification for the UEFA Europa League via a 3–2 comeback win at Celta, he came on as a half-time substitute and received the first sending-off of his career for two yellow cards in as many minutes. Tello contributed six appearances and one goal as his side won the 2021–22 Spanish Cup, including nine minutes of the final against Valencia CF.

In Their Own Story

The 2021–22 Copa del Rey final at the Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville. With nine minutes left on the clock, Tello entered the pitch as a substitute, his team locked in a tense battle against Valencia CF. The match would go to penalties, and when the dust settled, Betis emerged victorious. For Tello, it was the culmination of five years of service — 172 appearances, 24 goals, and countless moments of quality. From the late winner against Real Madrid on 8 March 2020 to the brace against Cádiz in the cup, his time at Betis was defined by resilience and timely contributions. When he left for Los Angeles FC in August 2022, he departed as a Copa del Rey winner, having etched his name into the club's modern history.

Reader's Guide

Cristian Tello joined Real Betis on 30 June 2017 on a five-year deal for €4 million. He made his debut from the bench on 25 August 2017 in a 2–1 home win over RC Celta de Vigo. His first goal came on 15 October 2017 as a consolation in a 6–3 loss to Valencia CF. He scored four league goals in each of his first two seasons. In 2019–20, despite rarely starting under manager Rubi, he scored the late winner against Real Madrid on 8 March 2020. He scored five goals in 2020–21. On 22 May 2021, he received the first sending-off of his career for two yellow cards in as many minutes during a 3–2 comeback win at Celta. Tello contributed six appearances and one goal as Betis won the 2021–22 Copa del Rey, including nine minutes of the final against Valencia CF. He left the club on 26 August 2022 to join Los Angeles FC.

Did You Know?

• Tello scored a hat-trick for Barcelona against Levante UD in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on 22 January 2014, profiting from three assists by Lionel Messi.
• He scored after only 30 seconds on the pitch in the last play of a 3–1 away win over Real Valladolid on 22 December 2012.
• Tello scored all of Porto's goals in a 3–0 win over Sporting CP on 1 March 2015.
• He received the first sending-off of his career on 22 May 2021, getting two yellow cards in as many minutes as a half-time substitute for Betis against Celta.
• Tello missed the first penalty attempt for LAFC in the 2022 MLS Cup final, which they won in a shootout against the Philadelphia Union.