There could be an unfamiliar face in Barcelona’s matchday squad for Thursday night’s La Liga clash with Villarreal. The lesser-spotted Hector Bellerin, per Diaro Sport, is available to Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernandez for the first time in over a month after recovering, at last, from a troublesome calf injury.
One that has kept him out of action for five straight games in all competitions, including the weekend’s 3-1 Clasico defeat to Real Madrid and a Champions League double-header with Inter Milan.
One that has restricted Bellerin to one start and just 121 minutes of football since re-tracing his roots over the summer, leaving Arsenal to end up back at the club he left as a teenager 11 years ago.
Hector Bellerin yet to get going at Barcelona after Arsenal exit
Bellerin only signed a short-term deal until July 2023 at the Camp Nou. As such, he really cannot afford another season wrecked by niggling injury issues. Not if he is to prove to Barcelona that he is deserving of a longer deal.
The Spain international has not started more than 25 league games in a single season since 2017/18. In that time, he has missed around 60 games through a whole variety of fitness problems; whether it be niggles or knocks, strains or something altogether more serious. Such as the cruciate ligament rupture that kept him on the sidelines for seven months a couple of seasons ago.
He’s on the comeback trail, but how long will it realistically be before he returns to the treatment table? If recent history is anything to go by, not long.
According to Sport, a decision may be forthcoming on Bellerin’s future as early as January. There are currently no active negotiations over a contract extension. And, with Ben White continuing to blossom as an attack-minded right-back, with Takehiro Tomiyasu offering a reliable, 7/10 alternative, Bellerin’s summer departure cannot really be framed either as ‘Arsenal’s loss’ or ‘Barcelona’s gain’.
Of course, all is not lost yet. Far from it. Right-back is clearly the biggest weak link in this lopsided and mismatched Barcelona squad. Bellerin, if he can rediscover the form he showed on loan at Real Betis and stay fit for a sustained period, could still become a key player under Xavi.
That, however, is an if so massive it casts even Barcelona’s famous cathedral into shadow.
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