Bellerin says 'no' to Barça: renewal imminent with Arsenal
The right-back will pen a new deal in London and delay any potential return to Camp Nou
Hector Bellerin, Barcelona’s preferred right-back for next summer, will not return to the club save a huge transfer offer. The player has given the OK to Arsenal’s offer to renew until 2021 and it will be made official soon. Everything is agreed after months of negotiating, during which time Barça and Manchester City have shown an interest. However, Bellerin is grateful to Arsenal, in concrete Arsene Wenger, for the confidence shown in him.
Bellerin’s renewal will be the second he signs in less than 18 months. In 2015 he renewed until 2019, but his progress since then has prompted Arsenal to move quickly and improve his salary. In recent months, Barça had been in touch with Bellerin’s entourage to see about his availability next summer. The right-back left the club in 2011 and could have returned in a case similar to Cesc Fabregas’ in his day.
The intention of Bellerin is to stay with Arsenal, although the club are used to selling players. With the new deal. they’re in a strong position to negotiate any future sale, so he’s unlikely to leave for less than 45 million euros, a figure which rules Barça out of the running. Instead, the club will continue their search, with their focus shifting to Valencia’s Joao Cancelo.
