According to MARCA, sporting director Manu Fajardo has opened talks with Villarreal over a season-long loan for the 27-year-old, who spent last season as one of several senior options in Villarreal's squad but managed only a single Copa del Rey appearance this term after 22 outings the year before. The move has gathered pace since Pau López informed the club of his intention to leave for Andorra, where he is expected to join Gerard Piqué's project.
Conde is a product of Atletico Madrid's academy and also had spells at LeganĂ©s and Getafe before Villarreal signed him for around âŹ4m in the summer of 2024, having previously stood out as the least-beaten goalkeeper during LeganĂ©s's promotion campaign.
He remains under contract at Villarreal until 30 June 2029, giving the Yellow Submarine full control over any exit terms, and with Luiz JĂșnior and Arnau Tenas also competing for minutes there, the club is open to letting him leave on loan to keep developing elsewhere.
Betis see Conde as the man to complete a rebuilt goalkeeping unit alongside Ălvaro Valles and Manu GonzĂĄlez. Talks are said to be well advanced, though it is not yet clear whether any loan agreement will include an option to buy at the end of the campaign.
Pau LĂłpez is coming to the end of a second spell at the club having made just 16 appearances this past season, with a muscle injury in November costing him his starting spot to Valles.
Manuel Pellegrini's staff rate Conde's aerial ability and command of his box highly, qualities they believe have been missing since Pau LĂłpez's fitness problems began.
Sevilla had also shown interest in Conde earlier in the window before prioritising the loan extension of Odysseas Vlachodimos from Newcastle, leaving Betis with a clearer run at the Villarreal stopper as the market moves into its final weeks.