Arsenal have to resist Hector Bellerin sentiment at Real Betis

Hector Bellerin and Arsenal parting way this summer has been one of the worst kept secrets of 2021. Every summer, and winter for that matter, over the past few seasons the defender has been linked with a move away, although never has it been more set in stone.

All things must come to an end and the decade of service Hector Bellerin has given to Arsenal is one that will be cherished long after he departs. Suffering from his fair share of criticism, none of that is directed to matters off the pitch where he’s been a wonderful representative of the club.

The way he’s embraced Arsenal, the way the club have embraced him and how he’s never shied away from dealing with important matters involving the team, he will leave with everyone’s best wishes. Wherever he ends up we all hope it brings him complete satisfaction and joy.

With the window’s opening date approaching, the club at the front of the queue for his services appears to be Real Betis. Despite being born in Barcelona, Bellerin grew up as a fan of Los Verdiblanco courtesy of his dad, and links to a switch to the Seville-based side have grown in recent days.

Arsenal have to resist Hector Bellerin sentiment at Real Betis in summer transfer window

Football.london revealed that contacts between the club’s sporting director Antonio Cordon and Bellerin representatives have already taken place, an operation deemed ‘difficult, but not impossible’.

Betis don’t have any money, however. Not nearly enough to satisfy what Arsenal should be demanding. It would constitute a romantic departure for the 25-year-old and an amicable solution in theory, but it’s about money. Money, and more money.

The Spanish side would like a loan deal with an option to buy in 12 months and that simply won’t suffice. Just like Lucas Torreira wanting to move to Boca Juniors, a club that can’t afford him, for personal reasons, Arsenal have to put sentiment to one side.

Talks with other clubs are due to take place over the coming weeks and whoever offers the most money should have their hands shaken. This isn’t like Chelsea granting Petr Cech to join rivals Arsenal in 2015 so he could stay in London: they had just won the title and had Thibaut Courtois already there as the replacement.

Paris Saint-Germain are already out of the question as they edge ever closer to sealing Arsenal-target Achraf Hakimi in a €60m deal, one that will likely see Alessandro Florenzi move to Inter in return. Two potential buyers gone.

Being ‘ruthless’ doesn’t only mean choosing to sell the players in the first place, it means taking the decision on where they end with the club’s absolute best interests at heart, even for those who’d become part of the Emirates furniture.