Hector Bellerin has been one of the few underperforms for Barcelona this season. Since joining the club on deadline day, the player has struggled to make an impression upon his return to Camp Nou.
The right-back has only featured in three league matches this term, forcing coach Xavi Hernandez to rely on the services of Sergi Roberto, Jules Kounde and even Alejandro Balde in the right-back slot.
With very little utility in the first team, there had been reports that Bellerin could leave Camp Nou in the upcoming January transfer window.
As the player had only signed a contract until the end of the season, a departure next month may help Barcelona earn some amount of revenue. There had been some interest from Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma side as well.
However, according to a report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are not too keen on offloading Bellerin just yet. Xavi, in particular, believes the defender should be given a second chance and is willing to keep hold of the player until the end of the season.
The major reason behind Barcelona’s willingness to give Bellerin another opportunity to prove himself is the fact that the player has been unfortunate with injuries. Earlier this season, the former Arsenal starlet had picked up a muscle injury that saw him miss three league matches.
Bellerin has since failed to rack up even a single appearance in the league. But as we brace ourselves for the second half of the campaign, the Blaugrana believe that there is substantial scope for the Spaniard to prove himself.
There are no doubts that the club lack reliable options in the right-back position, especially if Balde shifts back to the left-back position during the second half of the campaign.
With that in mind, keeping hold of someone like Bellerin could be a prudent move, as the Spaniard provides ample experience at the highest level of football.