FBL-EUR-C3-BENFICA-ARSENAL — Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (C) runs with the ball during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg football match between SL Benfica and Arsenal at the Olimpico stadium in Rome on February 18, 2021. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

New Barcelona president makes Hector Bellerin exit more likely

Mar 8, 2021

Joan Laporta has been elected as Barcelona president for a second time, which could increase the likelihood of an exit for Hector Bellerin.

wolverhampton wanderers v arsenal premier league — WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 02, 2021. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Over the weekend, it was confirmed that Barcelona were electing Joan Laporta as their club president. He earned more than 54% of the vote from their 109,531 eligible members.

This has implications for Arsenal, as reports in December suggested Laporta would make Hector Bellerin one of his summer transfer targets if elected.

The Mirror claimed an agreement was already in place between Laporta and Hector Bellerin’s camp to try and negotiate a deal with Arsenal for a transfer. A figure of £22m plus add-ons was being discussed.

Since then, the rumours of a Bellerin exit have grown, with ESPN recently reporting he could leave Arsenal this summer as part of an agreement with Mikel Arteta from last year.

Arteta reportedly asked Bellerin to stay for at least one more season. In return, he conceded that Arsenal would consider an exit in 2021 – assuming the defender still wanted to leave.

For what it’s worth, there were also reports linking Arteta with Barcelona if Laporta was elected. But both Arsenal and Laporta’s camp denied those rumours, unlike the Bellerin story.