Wenger loyalty comes before Barca for Bellerin
ARSENAL defender Hector Bellerin has emphasised his loyalty to Arsene Wenger amid “flattering” transfer links to former club Barcelona and Manchester City.
There has been fresh speculation of a possible summer swoop by Barcelona for Bellerin, despite the fact the 22-year-old signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners in November.
Bellerin admits he finds it “special” to be on Barca’s radar and has not ruled out one day returning to his home-town club, despite once vowing he would not.
However, the highlyrated full-back also expressed how important Gunners boss Wenger is to him. Bellerin said: “The loyalty to this person is worth more than money, it’s something very important to me, that he’s there carries a lot of weight for me.”
Wenger,whoseownGunners future remains uncertain, with the 67-year-old Frenchman out of contract in the summer and Arsenal fans split over whether he should continue, has overseen Bellerin’s emergence into one of the game’s brightest talents.
The Spaniard has been under Wenger’s watch since 2011, when he swapped Barcelona for London after becoming “disillusioned” at the Catalan giants.
At that point, Bellerin felt he would never return to Barca, but he now appears to have softened his stance.
The defender, who is currently on international duty with Spain Under21s, said: “Any player would be flattered by interest from Barca, it’s the best club in the world.
“The fact that I grew up in the Barca academy also makes this a bit more special, although for now I’m focused on these games and on the season, and the rest will come later.”