Hector Bellerin has proven to be a poor acquisition for Barcelona thus far. Signed on a free transfer in the summer, the 27-year-old was never a priority target for the Blaugrana and was only brought in as an emergency, cost-effective option.
The move, however, has failed to work out, with Bellerin failing to deliver the level of performance expected of a Barça player. As a result, he has taken the field just six times across all competitions, accumulating a total of just 404 minutes of action.
Barcelona had handed the right-back only a one-year contract which expires at the end of the season. As things stand, it is extremely unlikely that he will be offered a renewal meaning the Spaniard is likely to depart as a free agent in the summer.
But, there has been some interest in Bellerin’s services this January itself. Links to AS Roma had been doing the rounds but they have gone quiet in recent weeks.
However, the defender’s former club, Real Betis, are now said to be keen on signing him in the ongoing transfer window. But, according to MARCA, Bellerin does not want to leave Barcelona this month and wants to prove himself at his boyhood club.
Indeed, Los Verdiblancos, who play Barcelona tonight in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup, want to sign Bellerin to reinforce their full-back options following the departure of Alex Moreno.
The former Arsenal ace spent the last season on loan at Estadio Benito Villamarin and did quite well. And, the plan now would be to sign and deploy Bellerin as the right-back while moving Youssouf Sabaly to the left side of the defence.
However, despite his good relations with some of the Real Betis players and the club in general, Bellerin is not considering the possibility of leaving Barcelona in January. The defender wants to show that he can command a place in the Blaugrana backline.
While a January exit might not be on the cards, Betis believe that they could still see Bellerin return to the club in the summer when his contract expires, with a new extension offer unlikely to be forthcoming at Barcelona.