Hector Bellerin is set to snub a move to Barcelona as the Arsenal right-back has no interest in moving away from the Premier League, as per reports.
Spanish publication Don Balon have reported that Hector Bellerin has no desire to return to Barcelona. The Arsenal right-back will reject a move to Camp Nou to stay in the Premier League, where a move to Manchester City may be in the offing.
Bellerin has evolved into one of the best defenders in the Premier League ever since he graduated as an 18-year-old from the Arsenal academy in 2013. In just over three years since then, Bellerin has established himself as a mainstay at the back for the Gunners.
Still only 21, Bellerin possesses an electric burst of pace, superb technical ability and a decent reading of the game, while his positioning is something that can do with some work. And despite his tender age, Bellerin has been highly impressive by being a figure of consistency in the Arsenal back four.
With the Spanish youngster being one of the most exciting prospects in Europe, there are many clubs that could do with his services right now. One such club is Barcelona, who are desperate to sign a right-back in the summer and have made Bellerin their top priority.
The versatile Sergi Roberto has been the favoured player as right-back for Luis Enrique but the Spaniard has been showing signs of inconsistencies of late. Meanwhile, Aleix Vidal has been ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a cruel ankle injury.
Reports last week had stated that with right-back being such a crucial position for the Blaugrana, the club saw Bellerin as the perfect signing for the summer. However, Bellerin is now all set to snub a chance to move back to his boyhood club to remain in the Premier League.
That is because Bellerin does not want to repeat the same mistake that former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas committed, when he moved to Camp Nou and struggled to nail down a place for himself in the starting lineup in what were his peak years.
Instead, if Bellerin does make a decision on leaving Arsenal in the summer, it would be for the Gunners’ rivals Manchester City. The report states that City manager, Pep Guardiola’s track record and style of play is something that could appeal to the 21-year-old, making the Etihad Stadium a possible summer destination.
However, Arsenal are unlikely to be willing to sell their prized asset to a direct Premier League rival, making a summer move away from the Emirates Stadium highly improbable. It now remains to be seen if Bellerin indeed remains with Arsenal or moves to some other club in the summer.
