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Troy Parrott explains Betis choice after AZ Alkmaar transfer

·By Carlos Volcano
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Troy Parrott explains Betis choice after AZ Alkmaar transfer

Real Betis/X.com

Troy Parrott has been officially unveiled as a Real Betis player on a five-year deal, speaking about his move from AZ Alkmaar and his ambitions in Spain.

The Republic of Ireland striker was presented alongside fellow new arrival Dani Ceballos on Wednesday, having already featured in matches against Valencia and Levante under head coach Manuel Pellegrini since arriving a couple of weeks ago.

Parrott said he was still adjusting to life in Andalusia but had been struck by the warmth of his welcome.

"I've been here a week now," Parrott said. "It's very different to the places I've played before; I think the most obvious thing is how hot it is every day.

"But playing in Spain is a dream for me, and being here at such a big club really is one too. The adaptation to LaLiga has been a lot of fun, having new experiences and playing against other great players and great teams is something that really motivates me."

Asked about competing with Cucho Hernández for a starting spot and what Pellegrini expects from him, Parrott said the demands were straightforward.

"I think I'm going to have to perform at a high level, and I think having that healthy competition in this squad can only bring good things," he said. "As for what the coach wants from me, I think it's fairly simple: every coach wants goals, and for me that's the most important thing."

The 24-year-old also explained why he turned down the chance to return to English football, having previously spent time on loan in the Premier League and Championship.

"I already played in England and experienced that," he said. "I think for me as a person, coming here was something that excited me a lot. First of all, the football here is amazing: it's a top-level league, with great players and great teams.

"But there's also life away from football, and I think life here, from what I've seen in my first week, is really beautiful too. Seville is also a beautiful city."

Parrott said his ambitions for the season centred on enjoying big occasions rather than any specific target.

"My personal ambition for the season is to play beautiful matches," he said. "With the Champions League we'll see which matches we play this season, and there are also fixtures in LaLiga I'm really looking forward to experiencing. So yes, my main goal for this season is to create special memories here, and I'm really looking forward to that arriving."

Parrott joined Real Betis from AZ Alkmaar for a fee in the region of €20million, becoming one of the more significant attacking additions of the club's summer alongside the returning Ceballos.

His arrival gives Pellegrini a genuine goalscoring option to compete with Hernández heading into a season that will see Betis compete in the Champions League for the first time in more than two decades, adding considerable weight to the promise of goals the young Irishman has already made to his new supporters.