Real Betis’ sporting director Antonio Cordón has insisted they are yet to speak to Arsenal about a permanent move for Hector Bellerin.
The full-back is currently on loan at the Spanish club from Arsenal, having elected to leave the Gunners in the summer and make a return to his homeland.
The move to Betis has seen him turning out regularly for his boyhood club, a dream for father and son alike, and something he’s openly admitted he would like to continue if possible.
That will depend on Betis’ willingness to do a deal, although Bellerin has established himself as a key player under Manuel Pellegrini this season, and there has been no indication they are unhappy with what they have seen.
So far, though, it seems they haven’t, with Cordón insisting it is a matter to be looked at at the end of the season.
“We are still not negotiating with Arsenal, and we haven’t spoken about the future. We have to wait to see how we finish the season,” ABC Sevilla report him saying.
Quite why Cordón is waiting until that point to negotiate with the Gunners isn’t mentioned, but perhaps he is waiting to see where Betis finish before working out their budget.
Pellegrini’s side are currently fifth but only four points behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in third and fourth, so they’re very much in with a shot of Champions League football next season.
That would significantly boost their budget, and perhaps Cordón’s plan is to wait before committing to what would likely to be an expensive operation for Bellerin.
