How does the saying go? Time heals all wounds? Well, it certainly does over at Mundo Deportivo.
Back in November, the Catalan newspaper weren’t very happy with Hector Bellerin after the Barcelona youth product explained he was happy at Arsenal, and then went on to sign a new five-year extension with the London club, keeping him there until 2023.
Defending their beloved local club, Mundo were adamant the full-back was ‘of no interest’ to Barcelona, ‘period’, mostly because Arsenal’s style of football was ‘very different’ to Barcelona’s, and with Sergi Roberto already at right-back, they didn’t need him.
The problem for the La Liga giants now is they don’t have a natural right-back available after Aleix Vidal’s season-ending injury, meaning they now have to think who they can buy next summer to ensure they don’t have this problem again going forward.
Can you guess who Mundo Deportivo think Barcelona want? It couldn’t be Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin, surely? Not after November’s attack!
Except, it is…
The Catalan newspaper have a big two page exposé about how Arsène Wenger’s defensive starlet is the perfect man for the job at Barcelona, with a plan detailing how they could get a deal done.
According to Mundo, Valencia’s Joao Cancel’s performances this season has seen him drop down Barcelona’s wishlist considerably, pushing Bellerin back to the top, who possesses the technical quality, offensive abilities and defensive fundamentals to succeed at his former club.
Furthermore, he’s an experienced 21-year-old, which would justify the club spending big on him in the summer, and would now be willing to return home in exchange for guaranteed game time and a wage increase.
However, one obstacle still stands in Barcelona’s way, and that is Arsène Wenger.
The La Liga side’s best hope here is for the Arsenal manager to step down at the end of the season, which would see Bellerin free to ask his club for an exit in order to return to Barcelona.
They’ve got it all figured out, haven’t they?
