A return to Real Betis was ‘unfeasible’ for Hector Bellerin this summer with Arsenal’s Premier League misfit joining La Liga rivals Barcelona on deadline day instead, president Angel Haro tells Estadio Deportivo.
Last week, Manuel Pellegrini’s Copa del Rey winners avoided Financial Fair Play sanctions by the skin of their teeth.
The financial problems facing Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are well documented, but Betis too have had their own issues in recent months; only adding Willian Jose to their squad on deadline day after ‘restructuring the contracts of some of their players to meet the requirements’ of La Liga’s FFP rules, per the Washington Post.
As such, a return to the Estadio Benito Villamarin for Hector Bellerin was, to quote Haro, simply ‘unfeasible’. That is despite Arsenal’s willingness to terminate the final 10 months of the Spain international’s contract.
Hector Bellerin leaves Arsenal for Barcelona return
“At this moment, the (salary) limit we have is practically non-existent,” Haro explains. “Someone would have to leave for there to be some limit.
“This year (signing Bellerin) was unfeasible. As our theoretical (salary) limit was exceeded, it would not make sense. That’s why the objective was to keep the group (together). It didn’t make sense to add someone.”
Bellerin, who helped Betis qualify for the Europa League while bringing an end to a 20-year trophy drought during his loan spell with Los Verdiblancos, came full circle on the final day of the window; re-joining a Barcelona side he left as a teenager to follow in Cesc Fabregas’ footsteps in North London.
Bellerin, who took a pay cut to join Xavi’s rejuvenated side, has signed a one-year deal at the Camp Nou.
Serie A outfit Sassuolo were also keen. They simply could not compete with Barcelona, however, with Bellerin obviously feeling that he has unfinished business in Catalonia.
“We lost the battle against Barcelona. Never mind,” sighs Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali.
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