Revealed: How Barcelona's Bellerin transfer could help Man Utd
FT Desk
- 24 Aug 2022 05:20 CDT
- 3 min read
Barcelona want to sign Hector Bellerin from Arsenal. Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the situation.
Barcelona have been busy in the summer transfer market, signing Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde for a combined €165 million whilst picking up Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie on frees.
But Xavi still wants to sign a right-back, and Arsenal's Hector Bellerin has moved to the top of Barcelona's list, the La Masia academy graduate likely available on a free transfer after spending last season on loan at Real Betis.
FLAMIN' HEC! 🔥@HectorBellerin: The Flash ⚡️#ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/MHuWEeIV4o
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 19, 2019
Barca opened the campaign with Ronald Araujo - a centre-back by trade - playing right-back in the goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano. Xavi then moved to a back three for Sunday's 4-1 win at Real Sociedad, but his preferred formation remains 4-3-3.
The fact Xavi would rather play a player out of position or change his system than lean on Sergino Dest shows how much he trusts the young American right-back, but Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains a fan.
Dest-iny
Ten Hag handed Dest his debut at Ajax in July 2019 - in victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Johan Cruyff Shield - and he made 38 appearances in two seasons before his €27m move to Barcelona in October 2020.
But while Dest had the faith of Xavi's predecessor as coach Ronald Koeman, he has struggled to convince the Barca legend as a right-back, and was even used in attack at times last season as the 38-year-old Dani Alves occupied his preferred role.
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Bellerin's arrival at Camp Nou would push Dest even closer to the exit door, and he could plausibly be picked up for cheaper than the €28m he is rated at by Football Transfers' sophisticated inhouse algorithm.
Barca were also reportedly interested in Villarreal's Juan Foythe and Borussia Dortmund's Thomas Meunier, but Foythe's €42m release clause is prohibitively expensive and it's too late in the window for BVB to find an alternative in the position.
Bellerin's arrival could fix a problem at right-back at Camp Nou, and Old Trafford.
