According to ABC, Real Betis's sporting director has pushed ahead with the deal as the club rebuilds its midfield following the departures of Sergi Altimira, who has joined Sporting CP, and Sofiane Amrabat. The pending transfer of Nelson Deossa to Brazilian football is also expected to free up further room in the squad.
Fluminense will retain a percentage of any future sell-on as part of the agreement. The next step is to finalise personal terms with the player, to whom Betis are offering a long contract of between four and five years, with salary and performance bonus details still to be agreed.
Bernal is a physically imposing central midfielder at 1.87m, suited to the defensive side of midfield through his ability to win the ball and win aerial duels. He also has room for development tactically and technically, which fits the profile Betis are targeting.
His name has been on the club's radar for some time, and the combination of his physical profile, his eligibility to play without restrictions in Europe and his age make him an attractive option for Manuel Pellegrini's midfield ahead of a Champions League season.
Bernal's eligibility to play in Europe without work permit restrictions, thanks to his Italian passport, simplifies the administrative side of the move considerably. For a club managing budget constraints while still competing in the Champions League, signing a young, physically imposing midfielder from South America at around €8.5m represents sound business if he fulfils his potential under Manuel Pellegrini.
The deal has not yet been officially confirmed, with personal terms and bonus structures still under discussion, but the green light from the Real Betis board signals that the main obstacle — club-to-club agreement — has been cleared.