Arsenal star Hector Bellerin has revealed the true reason behind leaving his boyhood club Barcelona for the Gunners back in 2013.

The right-back came through the famous Barcelona youth academy but left to join Arsenal after he decided that he couldn’t see a future with the Catalan club.

Arsene Wenger was, of course, manager at the time, and his reputation for giving youth a chance was one of the main reasons Bellerin claims he left Barcelona for Arsenal.

Bellerin has already made 162 appearances for the Gunners and has no regrets of leaving his homeland behind.

“I was playing with FC Barcelona’s youth academy, La Masia, and when I turned 16, I thought I would stay with Barca,” he said.

“But I wasn’t feeling like they were showing me on paper what they were saying — let’s put it that way.

“I’m not talking just financially, but also in terms of my path into the first team.

“Halfway through that year, I got the call that Arsenal were interested in me.

“So, I went to London, saw the facilities, met with the boss, and they made me an offer.

“Everything looked so great, and my path into the first team was clear — obviously as long as I worked hard and I was reaching my targets. I like challenges and adventures.

“Even though people might have thought I was putting myself in a tough position by leaving my country and my family, it was actually quite easy, and exciting.”
[Quotes via Daily Star]