Arsenal: Can you really blame ‘torn’ Hector Bellerin?

Denis Suarez has stated that Hector Bellerin is torn between Arsenal and Barcelona. While some may be angry with the Spaniard pondering an exit, can you really blame him for being torn?

As the summer transfer window builds up steam, one thing is becoming excruciatingly clear: Arsenal will do well keep hold of their star performers. Not only are Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil entering the final year of their contracts after delaying negotiations on a number of occasions, but there are a few other key contributors subject to interest from potential suitors.

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Of those other players, perhaps the most concerning and potentially damaging is Hector Bellerin. After Dani Alves departed last summer and a replacement wasn’t found in the transfer market, Barcelona have been shackled by lacking a defensively reliable and offensively threatening right-back.

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They have trialled a number of different players in the position, from Sergi Roberto to Alex Vidal, without finding consistent success. As such, Bellerin, as a former Barcelona player, who has been schooled in the Barca way under Arsene Wenger, and has a bright and prosperous future ahead of him at just 22 years of age, has established himself as a priority for the Catalan giants.

There has been much rumour and conjecture surrounding whether Bellerin would like to return to his boyhood club or whether he would rather repay the faith and the investment that Wenger has shown him through his development in recent years. And now Denis Suarez has only added to the murky waters. In an interview with TV3, Suarez revealed that Bellerin is indeed torn between being faithful to the club that gave him the opportunity to prove his worth and the chance of featuring alongside Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Neymar, fighting for league titles and Champions Leagues:

"“I have spoken to Bellerin but it is not an easy situation because Arsenal trusted in him since he was a boy. It is his decision and Arsenal’s decision. I really don’t know what is going to happen but I wish he can come. I have spoken to him [Bellerin] and from one side he wants to join Barca, but from the other, he feels very attached to Arsenal. It is a hard situation and I am nobody to be speaking about this, but I wish he can come.”"

Since the rumours surrounding Bellerin’s potential want to leave surfaced, the Spaniard was criticised by some fans on social media for lacking loyalty. However, can you really blame Bellerin for at least considering swapping Europa League also-rans for his boyhood team, a team that are truly elite, challenging for the biggest honours that club football has to offer?

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If I was Bellerin, I would want to leave. And I find it difficult to see how people can criticise him for wanting to leave. Barcelona are perhaps the most attractive side to play for in European football. Let’s hope that Bellerin stays loyal. But if he doesn’t, I won’t be blaming him whatsoever.