Serie A giants AS Roma are reportedly pulling the plug on a January move for struggling Barcelona defender Hector Bellerin.
According to a report by Spanish outlet MARCA, AS Roma will not sign Hector Bellerin in the January transfer window. The Serie A giants have ruled out launching the offensive for the struggling Barcelona defender this winter.
Hector Bellerin returned to Barcelona after 12 years this past summer, ending a productive stint with Arsenal. The 27-year-old had been a revelation for the Gunners under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger. But his stock fell considerably following the Frenchman’s departure from the Emirates. And the player rediscovered his best during a loan stint with Real Betis last season.
After returning to Arsenal in the summer, Bellerin was determined to leave permanently. And he rejoined Barcelona on a free transfer after the north Londoners terminated his contract. But the Spaniard has struggled to stamp his authority at Spotify Camp Nou, managing only five outings. And Xavi Hernandez has even preferred Alejandro Balde over the player in a few games.
So Bellerin’s return to Barcelona has not been fruitful by any means. And recent reports have claimed that the Spanish international might depart from Camp Nou as early as January. Such a situation captured the attention of AS Roma.
The Giallorossi will offload Rick Karsdorp in the January transfer window following a bust-up with Jose Mourinho. So the Serie A giants need to invest in a right-back this winter to replace the Dutch defender. And Bellerin had emerged as a viable target for AS Roma heading into 2023.
But according to MARCA, AS Roma will not launch the offensive for the struggling Barcelona right-back. The latest update comes after recent reports claimed that Bellerin was closing in on joining the Serie A outfit. But Mourinho is evaluating other options to replace Karsdorp in January. Meanwhile, Barcelona might not fret about the failure of offloading Bellerin.
That is because the Blaugrana cannot enter the market for a replacement due to FFP concerns. So any right-back signing will be possible in the summer transfer window. And Bellerin will thus have the chance to turn things around in the second half of the season.
