30.06.03. Having fallen out with club president Manuel Ruiz de Lopera (through no fault of his own), Joaquín is expected to move on this summer. Betis have offered him a new contract for €600,000 a year, a salary which he could at least quadruple elsewhere. The real Madrid option is less likely now that Beckham has joined, but several Italian clubs are keen and Barcelona would also like to sign him.

22.06.03. Finally came good at the end of the season, scoring two great goals in the 1-4 win over Villarreal, the first with a free kick and the second with a lob over the keeper.

15.06.03. Once again came on in the second half for Spain's game at Northern Ireland, another catastrophic result as the team draw 0-0 and lose top spot in their group. A better performance at the weekend though, where the youngster scored with a rare header and set up another goal as Betis beat Racing 4-2.

08.06.03. Second half substitute for Spain in their disastrous defeat against Greece. Didn't really have enough time to do anything though.

01.06.03. Despite a drop in form, Joaquín was called up for the Spanish squad for the double header against Greece and Northern Ireland. Celebrated at the weekend setting up the only goal for Fernando at Alavés with a neat run, helping his side to their first win in eight games.

25.05.03. Betis are going through a bad patch, and their 2-2 draw against Valladolid mean they have now gone seven games without a win. Joaquín made his side's first equaliser, his corner finding Luis Fernández, but otherwise not a great game.

18.05.03. Another full game at Osasuna, but Betis lost 2-1 despite scoring first.

11.05.03. Played all but the last ten minutes at Rayo, but did little in a 1-1 draw.

04.05.03. With Etxeberría pulling out injured, Joaquín had no replacement and played the full game for Spain against Ecuador. Not a very notable performance from him, but Spain won 4-0.

27.04.03. Another ninety minutes at Bilbao, where he set up the opening goal for Fernando from a corner. Betis lost 3-1 in the end though. Called up for Spain's friendly with Ecuador.

20.04.03. Missed an easy chance early on against Atlético Madrid, but made up for it by setting up Arzu for the equaliser in a 2-2 draw.

13.04.03. Played the whole match away at Celta, but did little and Betis lost 1-0.

06.04.03. Came on for the injured Etxeberría five minutes before half time in the match against Armenia, and scored the third goal in time added on. This was his first ever goal for Spain. Played the full game in their 2-0 win over Valencia, setting up the second goal for Arzu.

30.03.03. Sáez preferred Etxeberría in his position on the right wing for the Spain match against the Ukraine, and didn't get a game.

23.03.03. Was called up again by Iñaki Sáez for Spain's euro 2004 double header against Ukraine and Armenia next week. Played the full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw at Málaga, having an active second half in particular.

16.03.03. Played the full ninety minutes in the 1-1 draw against Recreativo, but had a relatively quiet game.

09.03.03. Another disappointing result for Betis, who lost 2-1 at Mallorca. Joaquín played the whole match.

02.03.03. Played the full ninety minutes in the derby game against Sevilla, which Betis lost.

23.02.03. A disappointing 4-0 defeat at Barcelona, where Sorín kept the young winger under control.

16.02.03. Started the friendly international match against Germany, being replaced by Etxeberría twenty minutes from the end with the scores level. Spain eventually ran out 3-1 winners. Played the whole game again in the 3-2 league victory over Real Sociedad.

09.02.03. Called up for Spain's friendly international game against Germany. Played the full league game at Real Madrid, but after a promising start his side went down 4-1.

02.02.03. Another complete match at home to Deportivo, although the lack of a reliable striker probably cost Betis the game, which they lost 0-2.

26.01.03. played the full game again in the 2-1 win over Valladolid. Set up Denilson for the first goal.

19.01.03. Valencia television produced an insight report into some of the underhand deals in Spanish football, during which the Betis president revealed that Real Madrid and Barcelona had offered €48 million and €45 million for him respectively. Roma are the latest club to be interested though, and all indications are that he will be moving somewhere in the summer when his contract expires. Meanwhile he played (without too much success) in the cup defeat against Recreativo and then scored the only goal of the game in the last minute of the match at Racing Santander to keep his side in fifth spot in the league.

12.01.03. A disappointing cup tie midweek, which Betis drew 0-0 at home against Recreativo with Joaquín playing the full 90 minutes without creating much danger. The young winger had a better game at the weekend against Alavés, setting up Fernando for the first goal and scoring what looked like the winner in injury time until Alavés equalised with the last kick of the match.

05.01.03. No decision yet from the CEDD, so he lined up again for the game at Valladolid. However his side lost 3-0.

22.12. The disciplinary committee extended the ban from one to three matches and then reduced it to two, but Betis appealed to the CEDD and the ban was temporarily lifted pending presentation of evidence by both sides. As a result, he played (for most of the match) in their 2-1 win over Osasuna.

15.12. Played in the second leg of the disappointing UEFA cup tie at Auxerre, which Betis lost to drop out of the competition. Missed the defeat against Rayo as he was serving out his one match ban. Has been invited to the Real Madrid centenary match to play for the All Star side.

08.12. A minor disaster, got himself sent off in the second half of a hard game against Espanyol after retaliating against David García. The referee reported that he had pushed the defender in the face, and he was given a provisional one match ban pending further investigation.

01.12. Played the full 90 minutes in their 1-0 victory over Auxerre in the UEFA cup third round, and repeated at the weekend in the 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao.

24.11. Pulled out of the Spanish squad with an injury, being replaced by Etxeberría. Hit the news during the week as his contract runs out next summer and the Betis president has offered new conditions doubling his salary to 360,000 Euros. However this is well below even what half the Betis squad earn, and he could get five or ten times that in one of the big clubs. Back in the side though at Atlético Madrid, but was closely marked by García Calvo and could not do much.

17.11. Scored a second half penalty in the UEFA cup tie against Viktoria Zizkov and was given a rest soon afterwards, being replaced by Capi. Got the winning goal at the weekend against Celta under controversial circumstances, taking Denilson's pass in an offside position. It was his seventh of the season in all competitions.

10.11. Played the whole 120 minutes in the cup tie at Palamós, scoring two goals as his team won 3-6 after extra time. In the side again for the league match at Valencia, coming off in the last minute as a time wasting tactic with the scores tied.

03.11. Passed a late fitness test to play the Tuesday night UEFA cup tie at Zizkov. Substituted at half time though after Denilson scored. Managed to play the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 win against Málaga, setting up the first goal for Arzu with a long free kick.

27.10. Picked up a knock midweek and therefore Víctor decided to replace him with Varela in the starting line up at Recreativo. Came on in the second half with his side down to ten men, and two more of his colleagues were sent off later on as they drew 1-1.

20.10. Had another run out for Spain in their friendly with Paraguay, coming on at half time for Mendieta as one of five changes. Again did not particularly shine in a dull 0-0 draw. Played the full game against Mallorca, which took place in the Calderón stadium as the Betis ground was closed. Betis lost though, and Joaquín was marked out of the match.

13.10. Played for his side midweek in the remaining 47 minutes of the suspended match against Real Madrid. Started in Spain's Euro 2004 win over Northern Ireland. Had a quiet game though, and was replaced by Mendieta fifteen minutes from the end.

06.10. With the UEFA cup tie against Zimbru all but won, he was rested midweek and returned for the derby game at Sevilla, scoring the Betis goal with a header from close up in a 1-1 draw. As expected, he was included in the Spanish squad for the upcoming games against Northern Ireland and Paraguay.

29.09. Back on form, and had a starring role in the 3-0 league victory in Huelva over Barcelona (Betis ground was closed). Scored a spectacular goal midway through the second half and for once played the full 90 minutes.

22.09. Played the first hour of the UEFA cup tie at Zimbru, having a hand in the first goal when his corner was turned into his own net by a defender. Started again in the league match at Real Sociedad, laying on the second goal for Capi. However did not do much else, and was replaced five minutes in to the second half by Fernando.

15.09. Rested for the cup game at Jerez de los Caballeros, but returned for Betis' first home match against Real Madrid. Between floodlight failure and floodlight failure didn't get much of a look at the ball though.

08.09. Called up for Spain's Euro 2004 opener in Greece and started on the right wing. However had a disappointing game and was substituted on the hour mark by Mendieta.

01.09. Is clearly an important part of Iñaki Sáez's plans for Spain's rejuvenated side, and came on in the second half for Mendieta in the first friendly of the season against Hungary. Started in Betis' first game of the season at Deportivo and had a sensational match, winning a penalty in the first half which Alfonso converted and scoring himself in the second as his side swept aside the Champions League team 2-4.

Joaquín came to fame in this summer's World Cup, where his dazzling appearances for Spain lit up the competition. The youngster is still learning his trade, but with Denilson to show him the ropes on the opposite wing at Betis, he has a great teacher. Reportedly a Real Madrid fan, many people expected him to be playing his football in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium this season. However Betis managed to hang on to him at least for another year, much to the delight of their many supporters.