La Liga heavyweights Barcelona have reportedly turned down the opportunity to bring Hector Bellerin back from Arsenal in the summer.
According to reputed Spanish journalist Helena Condis, Barcelona rejected the chance to re-sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal in the summer transfer window. The Catalan giants were interested in bringing him back to Camp Nou last summer, but their priorities have changed this year.
Hector Bellerin spent most of his formative years at FC Barcelona before ending his footballing education at Arsenal. Upon making his first-team breakthrough at the north London club nearly nine years ago, the Spaniard steadily grew in stature before establishing himself as the Gunners’ first-choice right-back.
But following Mikel Arteta’s appointment as the Arsenal manager, Bellerin’s stature reduced, and he subsequently chose to join Real Betis on loan last summer. The 27-year-old has turned out 31 times for the Andalusian club this season, chipping in with five assists. But upon the expiration of the loan deal, Bellerin intends to leave Arsenal permanently, and he has been offered to Barcelona.
Barcelona could delve into the market for a right-back in the summer transfer window amid doubts over the futures of Dani Alves and Sergino Dest. While the Catalan giants are yet to offer Alves an extension on his current contract, Dest’s position at Camp Nou is increasingly precarious.
As a result, Barcelona decided to focus on signing Noussair Mazraoui in a Bosman move in the summer transfer window, with the Moroccan defender initially expressing his desire to join the Blaugrana. But Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are winning the race to land the Ajax right-back, sending Barcelona back to the drawing board.
Bellerin could have been a viable target for Barcelona, given his age and experience. But the Catalan giants have no interest in bringing the 27-year-old back to Camp Nou from Arsenal. While Barcelona had considered re-signing the Arsenal defender last summer, their priorities have changed this year.
Bellerin might not have been open to rejoining Barcelona either, as he intends to move to Real Betis on a permanent transfer in the summer transfer window. For now, what seems certain is that Bellerin will likely leave Arsenal permanently once he returns from his loan spell.
