Ex-Barcelona youth star Hector Bellerin quit the Camp Nou for Arsenal in order to increase his chances of playing first-team football.
The 16-year-old right-back made his move to the Emirates before signing a professional deal with the Catalan club, just like Cesc Fabregas did back in 2003.
Bellerin told Spanish TV programme Punto Pelota:
‘I was at home and my father called me to say Arsenal had been on the phone. We decided to go there to see how things are. I hadn’t made up my mind because I’d been at Barcelona all my life so it was very difficult. But after evaluating things I decided to join Arsenal. When you want to be a professional you have to look to make your way. And I believe the right path for me was to choose Arsenal.’
‘We met Mr Wenger and it went so well. It was all too much for me but I paid full attention to everything he said. When there is a team that guarantees you can play in the first team and above all in the Premier League, then it is very difficult to say no.’
‘Mr Wenger was explaining to me how the club was and the project they had prepared for me and above all he wanted to get to know me.’
Although Bellerin may have been one for the future at Barca, the youngster knew that it would be very difficult to break into the first-team at the Camp Nou.
Undoubtedly, the Spain Under-16 international, who is likely to wear the number 2 on his back this season, will be given his fair share of chances at Arsenal, and under the guidance and tuition of Arsene Wenger, Bellerin could potentially develop into a fine player in years to come.
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Only problem i can see is if we give him playing time and he actually ges to be an integral part of our eam i guarantee you Barca will want him ack when he stars hitting his peak using the same crap as they have wih cesc……………he has their DNA he came from their academy what Arsenal did was immoral and why should they pay the going rate for him because he really belongs to them. I feel that in his contract there should be a clause either for money or saying that Barca has to pay the going rate or he cannot be sold back to them. I see Barca using us as a training and finishing school and when the finished article is there they pick them up for a pittance and a sarcastic “thankyou” for holding onto him for us and making him what we needed.
don’t know what philosophy of this club.
A football school?
A Great Trader Company?
Yeah, I’m sick… I’m tired…
But I know I will always Arsenal till I die…
I just sick with the condition tod
ARSENAL TILL I DIE…. how they talk it’s all are leaving arsenal…. ONLY F*CKING RUMORS….
please arsene leave arsenal
Maverick, while I agree with what you say, really that can only happen if Arsenal allow to happen. By not properly strengthening and equipping this squad with players who can win something they have allowed players to lose the belief in “winning the beautiful way.” Thus, these players want to move on. It’s sad to see this all unfold right in front of our eyes and yet amazing how the same story for the past 3 seasons has not been a wake up call to the board. Same problems for the past 3 seasons, yet very little has changed.
I want to remain optimistic and hope for silverware next season. Hopefully that doesn’t become a perennial aspiration, because then it’d be like being a Tottenham fan – There’s always next year…ugh
Here we go again…..
By the time he’s a first-team star, Barcelona will not be able to afford him. Just a year ago they couldn’t pay the players wages. They are bankrupt already and only stay afloat because the Government elections are integral with the club – which in turn ensures the National bank provides the loans the club needs for transfers.
I delight in, result in I discovered exactly what I used to be taking a look for. You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
Unfortuately, Asrenal mismanage the Cesc transfer due to pressure from everywhere- barca, the thugs (barca players), the council chairman etc. Arsenal should have insisted on the market rate for Cesc or sell him to the highest bidder which should have been Real Madrid. Unfortuately, Cesc want barca and Arsenal cooperated. It should have been strickly business and no sentments. The club should learn from the Cesc case and insist on market price in future. A lot of time and money are usually spent on training and development of a player to get to the highest level.