Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali admits the Serie A outfit wanted Hector Bellerin from Premier League giants Arsenal before the Spain international re-joined Barcelona on a free transfer, speaking to Sky Italia.
Talk about unfinished business.
Bellerin rose through the ranks at Barca’s famous La Masia academy but never made a first-team appearance for the Blaugrana before joining Arsenal as a fresh-faced, wide-eyed teenager. A decade later, he’s back where it all began.
The 27-year-old right-back joined his hometown club on deadline day; Arsenal agreeing to rip up the final 10 months of his contract.
The La Liga challengers were not the only interested party however. But Sassuolo were always up against it once Barcelona expressed their desire to bring Bellerin back to the club where he honed his trade.
“We lost the battle against Barcelona. Never mind,” sighs Carnevali.
Barcelona re-sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal
Bellerin, capped twice by Spain, fell out of favour under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates. It’s telling that, despite Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury-enforced absence, Ben White was chosen to play at right-back instead of the long-serving Bellerin.
“It’s with a lot of sadness that today I say goodbye to this club, the fans, the staff, the players and our family,” Bellerin writes.
“There’s been highs, so high, and lows, so low, but I’ve enjoyed thoroughly every single experience I’ve lived with you Gunners.
“Thank you Gunners, thank you for your continued support throughout all these years. For how supportive you were in the good and the bad. For how enjoyable it’s been to play in this beautiful stadium. And for sharing together every single step of this journey of mine.
“With the sadness of a goodbye, but the excitement of a new beginning; I say to you all Thank You. Once a Gunner, always a Gunner.”
Bellerin, who impressed on loan at Copa del Rey winners Real Betis in 2021/22, has signed an initial one-year deal with Barcelona.
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