Arsenal’s Bellerin hints move to Barcelona is not imminent

Hector Bellerin posted a cryptic message on Twitter on Thursday afternoon which suggests he is not about to quit Arsenal.

The 22-year-old has been consistently linked with a move back to boyhood club Barcelona, while Manchester City have also reportedly shown an interest in the Spain full-back.

But after several newspapers reported a potential return to Catalonia may be on the cards, Bellin wrote on Twitter: “Don’t believe everything you read…”

Bellerin, who penned a new deal at the Emirates Stadium last November, saw his relationship with Arsenal fans fluctuate last season. He has always been highly rated at Arsenal but he felt the wrath of a number of angry supporters during the 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in April.

Manager Arsene Wenger defended the player but Bellerin then had a spell on the sidelines before establishing himself in the new-look 3-4-3 formation which helped Arsenal finish the season strongly.

He started the 2-1 FA Cup final win over Chelsea before further speculation saw him once again touted as a potential target for Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s top goalscorer from last season Alexis Sanchez has said he will leave it to his agent to thrash out a potential new contract with the club.

Sanchez, who hit 30 goals last season, is out of contract in a little over 12 months and, like Bellerin, has been linked with a number of other clubs.

City, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are reported suitors while some reports claim Sanchez has already been offered a record deal to remain at Arsenal.

Either way the forward, who is currently on international duty with Chile at the Confederations Cup, is happy to leave agent Fernando Felicevich in charge of negotiations.

Asked about his future by reporters in Russia, he said: “That is what my representative is looking at.

“I am now focused [on the Confederations Cup]. The truth is that my agent will see to it. He knows and he will sit down with the club to see what is best for me.

“I would like many things, but right now I only think about the national team.”

Last week Wenger signed a new two-year deal to remain as Arsenal boss and will be determined to hang on to the likes of Bellerin and Sanchez.

The Frenchman is also looking to add new recruits to a squad which could only manage a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League last season.

Schalke full-back Sead Kolasinac will join the club next month on a free transfer while the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Alexandre Lacazette have been linked with big-money moves to north London.