Real Betis director Antonio Cordon admits that a deal to bring Hector Bellerin back from Premier League giants Arsenal will be ‘very difficult’ to complete, speaking to Radio Marca.
The tears rolling down his cheek said more than words ever could.
Hector Bellerin, a boyhood Betico with green and white blood coursing through his veins, could not hold back the waterworks as he bid an emotional farewell to the Verdiblancos supporters following the 2-0 final day victory over Granada a fortnight ago.
Arsenal are willing to sell Bellerin for a cut-price fee of £15 million this summer. There is just one year remaining on his Emirates contract.
But, with the vice-like grip of Financial Fair Play keeping the proverbial purse strings tightly drawn, Real Betis are up against it as they look to secure the former Barcelona youngster on a permanent deal.
Will Arsenal sell Hector Bellerin to Real Betis?
“Today, (Bellerin and former fans’ favourite Dani Ceballos) are two very difficult options for Betis,” admits Cordon. “I want to be very frank; Right now, we cannot deal with this type of situation.
“Every signing is a risk.”
Bellerin earns around £7.5 million (£145,000-a-week) before tax at the Emirates Stadium. Needless to say, given Real Betis’ financial difficulties, the Catalan-turned-cockney will need to take a substantial pay cut if he wishes to return to his beloved Estadio Benito Villamarin.
But money isn’t everything of course. And one suspects, given the emotional connection between Bellerin and Betis, the 27-year-old would choose fairytales over finances.
“Hector Bellerin? He’s in love with Betis,” Cordon admitted last week, via Fabrizio Romano. “He’s now back at Arsenal and we will see what happens, he knows our situation.”
“Hector is a fantastic player and a very good person,” adds president Angel Haro. “It was a loan that we had from Arsenal, now he returns to Arsenal and from then on, we’ll see.
“It is true that he has been very caught up in everything about Betis because, in addition, his parents are Betis fans. Hopefully, we cross paths again.”
Bellerin provided an assist in the Copa del Rey final victory over Valencia, Real Betis’ first piece of silverware in nearly 20 years. At least, if his dream return to Andalusia falls through, Bellerin has a career as a David Bedford lookalike awaiting him….
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