Most academy midfielders never get a second look from anyone outside their own club. Ricardo Funez Gomez, known to Betis fans as Rica, has given people a reason to look twice. His match rating in the UEFA Youth League rose from one season to the next. He has a contract that runs to 2028. In March 2026 he was promoted to Betis Deportivo, the reserve side that sits one step below the first team.
None of that makes him a star. He is 19, he has one senior appearance on record, and his market value is in five figures. But this is the stage where careers are quietly decided, and Funez is right in the middle of it.
Who he is, in one table
| Full name | Ricardo Funez Gomez |
|---|---|
| Known as | Rica, Rica Funez |
| Born | February 2, 2007, Palomares del Rio (Seville), Spain |
| Age | 19 |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Position | Central midfielder |
| Stronger foot | Right |
| Shirt number | 99 |
| Club | Betis Deportivo Balompie (Real Betis B) |
| Promoted to Betis Deportivo | March 1, 2026 |
| Contract runs until | June 30, 2028 |
| Agency | All Iron Sports |
| Market value | Around EUR 25,000 (estimate) |
| Net worth | $100,000 to $300,000 (Icon Polls estimate) |
Palomares del Rio and the Betis pathway
Palomares del Rio is a small town on the edge of Seville, a city that takes its football very seriously and splits its loyalties between Betis and Sevilla. Funez went the green and white way. He joined the Real Betis youth system young and worked his way up through the age groups.
The Betis academy, the Cantera Betica, doesn't have the global fame of Barcelona's La Masia. It does have a steady record of producing players who go on to professional careers in Spain and beyond. That matters for a player like Funez. Clubs that trust their academy tend to give academy players a real chance.
His route has been straightforward. He came through the youth ranks, reached the Under 19 side, played in the UEFA Youth League against the youth teams of Europe's bigger clubs, and then stepped up to Betis Deportivo in March 2026. The reserve team plays in the Primera RFEF, the third tier of Spanish football, where young players come up against grown professionals.
What the Youth League numbers actually show
His recorded appearances are few. That is normal for his age, but it means every number has to be read with care.
| Season | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists | Avg rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | UEFA Youth League | 5 | 2 | 1 | 6.5 |
| 2025/2026 | UEFA Youth League | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7.3 |
| 2025/2026 | Primera RFEF (Betis B) | 1 | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Across two Youth League campaigns he made 11 appearances, with 2 goals and 2 assists. On their own, those totals are modest. The interesting part is the rating. It went from 6.5 to 7.3, and it went up in the season he didn't score.
That tells you something. A midfielder whose rating improves without goals is probably doing more of the work that doesn't show up on a scoresheet: keeping possession, choosing the right pass, being in the right place. Eleven games is a small sample, so it's worth being careful. Still, the direction is right.
The single Primera RFEF appearance is more of a milestone than evidence. What he does with minutes at that level is the next real test.
A small midfielder in a system that likes them
At 1.73 m, Funez will never win a midfield on size. In Spanish football that matters less than almost anywhere else. Betis, like most Spanish clubs, values technique, comfort on the ball and smart positioning over physical presence. A right-footed central midfielder who can receive under pressure and keep the ball moving has a clear role to aim for.
Central midfield is also the hardest place to break through. It needs stamina, tactical discipline and good decisions, and first team coaches are slow to trust young players there because mistakes in that area get punished. That's why his time at the reserve side matters so much.
The money: modest, and mostly estimated
His salary has not been made public, and there's no official net worth figure for a player at this level. Icon Polls estimates his net worth at $100,000 to $300,000. That estimate is based on what a young professional on a Real Betis contract is likely to earn, plus any youth development payments. Treat it as an informed guess, not a fact.
Wages in the Primera RFEF vary a lot and are small compared with La Liga. The more telling detail is the contract itself. Betis extended his deal in August 2025, running to June 2028. Clubs rarely tie down players they don't rate. If he reaches the first team or earns a move, the money changes quickly. Until then, it stays modest.
Why EUR 25,000 isn't an insult
Publicly available football data puts his market value at around EUR 25,000. That sounds low, but it's what a 19-year-old with one senior game is expected to be valued at. Valuations at this stage follow minutes, and he hasn't had many yet.
That works in his favour. A run of starts with Betis Deportivo, or a first team debut, is exactly what moves a young player's value from five figures to six. He is represented by All Iron Sports, a Spanish agency that works with young footballers, so his career is being managed properly. For now, the number reflects where he is, not where he'll end up.
Is he in EA Sports FC 26?
We can't confirm that he has a card in FC 26. EA's database is built mainly around first team squads, and reserve players with limited senior minutes are often left out. If he does appear, expect a low starting rating, which is normal for young reserve players. Like most academy prospects, he becomes a more interesting pick in the game once he has a senior career. Until then, he is more likely to turn up as a name to scout in Football Manager.
If you'd rather think about midfielders at the other end of their careers, the people who set the standard Funez is chasing, cast your vote for the best football players of all time.
Before you go
How old is Rica Funez?
He was born on February 2, 2007, so he is 19.
Which team does he play for?
Betis Deportivo Balompie, the reserve team of Real Betis, which plays in the Primera RFEF. He was promoted there in March 2026 and wears number 99.
Is he a good prospect?
It's too early for a firm answer. His rising Youth League rating, his contract to 2028 and his promotion to the reserve side all point the right way. The next step is regular senior football, and that is what will show whether the promise is real.
