Hector Bellerin calls Barcelona interest ‘special’ with club poised to move for Arsenal star in the summer
Right-back says he will 'never forget' his stay at Barca as a youth player
HECTOR BELLERIN has said that speculation linking him with a return to Barcelona is ";special".
The Arsenal right-back, on international duty with Spain, has long been linked with a move back to his former club.
Bellerin, 22, was at famed Barca academy La Masia from the age eight to 16 before moving to north London.
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Since breaking into the Arsenal team two years ago, Bellerin has become a fan favourite at the Emirates - and has continually been linked with a move back to the Nou Camp.
Despite signing a new six-year deal with the Gunners in November, Bellerin's words would not likely be welcomed by Arsenal fans.
He said: "It’s nice there are a lot of big clubs that are interested in me, but if one of those is Barcelona that’s special.
"I don’t forget I grew up in that home and I will never forget my stay at Barcelona… I left Barcelona because I felt the club was not confident in me, I didn’t feel valued, disenchanted.";
The La Liga club have struggled to replace Dani Alves after he left for Juventus last summer.
Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal, before his injury, struggled to nail down the position and Luis Enrique has moved to a 3-4-3 in recent weeks.
Bellerin has been one of the first names on the team-sheet for Arsene Wenger this season, but the Gunners are massively struggling in sixth - nine points off rivals Tottenham and a huge 19 off leaders Chelsea.
Bellerin also pointed to Ronaldinho - the Brazilian legend who turned 36 today - and Ludovic Guily as two of the men who inspired him as a youngster.
"I am from the generation of Ronaldinho," he said, "I played a lot on the wing and Ronaldinho brought us the magic back.
"There are players who have marked me, one of them is Ronaldinho, another is Giuly, for his speed, directness and I will never forget once I took a masterclass with Giuly."