Why Barcelona should not hesitate anymore to sign Arsenal’s Bellerin
According to Daily Express, Barcelona have once again reignited their interest in Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin. A former La Masia academy player, Bellerin moved to Arsenal at a young age of 16 and has since then grown on to become one of their key players.
Meanwhile, Barcelona who let their talented full-back move to England, have often been linked with a move of signing him since he made a name for himself at the North London club.
However, his long-term knee injury acted as a deterrent, forcing the Catalans to prolong their interest in the Spaniard.
With things not the same anymore at Camp Nou since the departure of star man Dani Alves in 2016, Barcelona are in hot pursuit of a talented full-back who could resolve their issues at the back.
The Catalans soon bought Portuguese full-back Nelson Semedo in the summer of 2017 to fill in the void left by the Brazilian. However, Semedo has never quite impressed and has failed to live up to the expectation since signing for them as a youngster.
Even though the Catalonians still reign supreme in the Spanish league, thanks to Lionel Messi and their world-class attackers, there have been serious issues at the back, which need instant remedies.
Their inability to reach the Champions League final since the 2014-15 season when they were last crowned champions has often been linked to Barcelona’s inadequacies in its defensive department.
Finding a suitable replacement for Alves has been hard and in Bellerin, the Catalonians would have a player in a similar mould. This clearly explains Barcelona’s interest in their long-time target.
Moreover, being a former academy player, Bellerin is someone who is quite familiar with the game style and philosophies that Barcelona, as a club, holds in high regard.
Bellerin, meanwhile, has been Arsenal’s first choice at right-back for the past few years and has played a total of 188 matches for them. However, his spell at Arsenal has often been marred by injuries but that has not stopped the young man from developing into a regular within the squad.
A fan favourite, Bellerin has made only 3 appearances in the Premier League this season after returning from a long injury lay off that has seen him miss almost a year of action.
The Spaniard suffered a cruciate ligament rupture earlier this year and has since then been on the fringes, waiting eagerly to once again get his career back on track.
A pacey full-back, Bellerin can easily cover the length of the pitch, contributing to both the attack and the defence. However, it is his attacking abilities that have often received acclaim.
Moreover, his speed and short passing skills in the final third make him a dangerous customer for the opposition. With 7 goals and 25 assists for Arsenal, he has also proved his credentials as a quality team player, who can chip in with the goods whenever necessary.
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All these qualities make him a perfect fit for the right-back position at Barcelona. With Semedo currently out due to injury, Barcelona have turned to the 21-year-old Moussa Wague. But the Senegalese is still young and has a lot to learn before he can secure the spot for himself.
Verdict
With Semedo failing to impress despite being given so many chances and Wague still learning his trade, it would be foolish of Barcelona to wait further for the Arsenal man, who is valued at around £38million.
Moreover, Bellerin is a Barcelona graduate and it would not take him much time to adjust to the new conditions of his boyhood club.