Marc Bartra completes surprise switch to Real Betis | OneFootball

Just 18 months after leaving Barcelona for Borussia Dortmund, Marc Bartra has returned to LaLiga with Real Betis.

The Spain international has struggled to get into the Dortmund squad in recent weeks.

Plenty of rumours suggesting he wanted to be closer to home following the attack on the Borussia Dortmund bus last season which left the defender hospitalised.

Bartra has fallen out of favour under Dortmund boss Peter Stöger, who was happy to let him leave following the signing of Manuel Akanji from FC Basel.

But Real Betis have offered him the opportunity to head to back to his home country and try to recover his form.

The defender joins on loan but the deal will be made permanent in the summer.

Despite sitting in a comfortable mid-table position — just six points back of the Europa League places — Betis have one of the worst defences in LaLiga.

The Masia product has played 13 times for Spain and will be hoping to be at the World Cup in Russia this summer.