Bellerin offered to Betis and Barca but they want him for free | OneFootball

Hector Bellerin has been offered to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, but it seems interested clubs are still hoping to land him on a free transfer.

NUREMBERG, GERMANY: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal is challenged by Christoph Daferner and Johannes Geis of 1. FC Nuernberg during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal F.C. at Max-Morlock-Stadion on July 08, 2022. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

Matteo Moretto reports for Relevo that Hector Bellerin’s agent Albert Botines is still in talks with Arsenal. Both parties are hoping to move him on this summer, and Botines is also in contact with Real Betis.

Bellerin wants to return to Spain, and he’s been offered to Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, but his favoured option is Betis.

The right-back is willing to lower his salary, but the move is ultimately not up to him. It depends more on the clubs involved actually reaching an agreement to sign him.

From that point of view, the bad news is that Mark Irwin of The S*n reports that both Real Betis and Barcelona are insisting they can’t afford to pay a fee for Bellerin.

The two clubs are ready to wait until the transfer deadline to do a deal, as they believe Arsenal will eventually let Bellerin go for free.

This isn’t a surprising situation for Arsenal to be in, as it’s been clear for a while that Bellerin wants to leave, but with a year on his deal, no realistic hope of reintegration with Arsenal, and no club willing to put down a major bid for him.

The Gunners clearly don’t have significant negotiating power here, aside from putting their foot down and insisting the right-back sits around not playing football for a year unless they receive a bid.

Given the goodwill between Bellerin and Arsenal, that option is probably off the table as well.

Betis and Barcelona are aware of all that, so waiting for a contract termination and a free transfer is honestly their most sensible move.