Hector Bellerin finds himself in another hugely difficult situation having disagreed with Barcelona over his future at the Camp Nou.
The Spanish defender sealed a switch to Catalonia in the summer on a free transfer following the termination of his contract at the Emirates Stadium. He penned a one-year deal with the La Liga giants until the end of the current season but his start to life with his new club has really not gone the way he would have hoped.
The 27-year-old has only been afforded five appearances for Barca - three of those being starts. He missed a few matches last month through injury, while Bellerin was named as an unused substitute in each of the last two league games.
Now, it appears there is huge doubt over his long-term future with Barcelona. According to AS, the club have already decided not to renew his deal having only made a decision to sign him as a ‘last option’.
They have not been particularly convinced by his defensive abilities during the rare outings he has been granted and are prioritising the signing of another right-back in the upcoming January transfer window. That would see Bellerin fall even further down the pecking order at the Camp Nou with youngster Alejandro Balde having seemingly become Xavi ’s first-choice in the absence of utility man Sergi Roberto.
It is a similar situation that the Arsenal academy graduate found himself in North London before his permanent exit. He fell out of favour under Mikel Arteta before being loaned out to boyhood club Real Betis.
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He won the Copa del Rey with the Spanish side and regularly reiterated his desire to make the switch permanent but an agreement could not be reached before he penned a deal with Barcelona.
Despite Barcelona having already made the decision that Bellerin will be on the move next summer, that has not stopped him from expressing his desire to extend his stay.
Speaking with Radio Catalunya, he said: “I want to sign a new deal as I want to stay here at Barça, I’m really happy.”
Whilst he has offered his view on a potential Barcelona stay, the Spaniard has also had plenty to say on his former team recently and praised the Gunners’ hierarchy for keeping faith in Arteta - a decision that has rewarded them handsomely.
He said: "In football, in general, there is less and less patience. There is clear evidence of how important the process is. In England, it has happened with [Pep] Guardiola, [Jurgen] Klopp and Arteta.
"Projects that have faces and eyes have to be prepared, and the process is long. Confidence and continuing to improve is important. Rome wasn't built in a day."
