Hector Bellerin is set to join a third different club since leaving Premier League leaders Arsenal less than 12 months ago with Fabrizio Romano reporting that a return to La Liga outfit Real Betis is close to being agreed.
The Spain international is a boyhood Betis fan.
He was forced to bid an emotional farewell to Los Verdiblancos after an impressive loan spell in 2021/22 but a return to Heliopolis always seemed like a matter of time for a man who has never made any secret of his adoration for the Andalusian outfit. Bellerin won a Copa del Rey title during his short-lived stint in green-and-white – ending the club’s 17 year trophy drought – and will be hoping to pick up where he left off this summer.
“Real Betis are in advanced talks to sign Hector Bellerin,” Romano reports on Twitter. “(He will join) on a free deal from Sporting Lisbon at the end of the season.
“Negotiations are progressing to the final stages. Former Barcelona and Arsenal right-back is keen on returning to Betis soon.”
Arsenal let Hector Bellerin go and now he’s set for La Liga return
Bellerin terminated his contract at the Emirates Stadium six months ago; joining Barcelona on the final day of the summer transfer window. After struggling for game-time at the Camp Nou, he crossed the border into Portugal in January.
But niggling injury issues have wrecked his hopes of an immediate impact at Sporting. Those fitness issues kept him out of the Europa League last-16 clash with his old employers; Arsenal crashing out thanks to that Pedro Goncalves stunner.
In total, Bellerin has started just eight games for Barcelona and Sporting throughout 2022/23.
“I love Hector,” Mikel Arteta said ahead of Arsenal’s Sporting clash. “I absolutely love the person and the player. He was a really important player for our club. One who left something beyond just his career but as a person at our football club.
“It will be great to see him. And I’m sure the boys and the staff will be really happy to see him again.”
