Barcelona call off hunt for Hector Bellerin as Luis Enrique picks Sergi Roberto as his long-term right-back
The Gunners had worried that Bellerin would return to the Catalan club but he in now expected to sign fresh deal
ARSENAL have been handed a major boost as Barcelona finally ended their pursuit of Hector Bellerin.
The Gunners feared an approach from the Catalan giants all summer for the right-back - who came through the ranks at La Masia.
But, according to reports in Spain, Barca boss Luis Enrique has now called time on his quest to bag Bellerin.
That is because he sees Sergi Roberto as the long-term successor to Dani Alves - who joined Juventus over the summer.
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Bellerin is believed to be happy at the Gunners and the right-back, who was named in the PFA Premier League team of the year last season, would not come cheap.
The Gunners are thought to have begun contract talks with the 21-year-old over a two-year extension to his current deal that would take him through to 2021 with the club.
Roberto has already scooped on title this season after a 2-0 Spanish Super Cup success against Sevilla, going on to start in both of Barca's opening two Liga victories.
He also started in Spain's 8-0 thrashing of Lichtenstein on Monday and grabbed himself a maiden international strike.
And although Barca were keen on a return for the player who left them in 2011, boss Enrique has now settled on Roberto as his first-choice right-back.
Roma's Alessandro Florenzi, AC Milan's Mattia De Sciglio and Joao Cancelo of Valencia were also scouted by the Spanish champions.