At this point, it is known to the public that Hector Bellerin took a major pay cut to finalise his move to Barcelona from Arsenal.
If that wasn’t enough, another sign of just how much the FA Cup winner wanted to return to his boyhood club has been revealed.
As per the latest information provided by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, the 27-year-old rejected two proposals from Italy in favour of a move to the Spotify Camp Nou.
Coming off the back of a superb season for Real Betis on loan, where he also played a crucial role in the club’s Copa del Rey triumph, it is no surprise that clubs in Europe were eyeing a deal for the experienced right-back.
While a player such as him, that has played at the top level for years on end, could well have joined an Italian side offering a more lucrative package, it is believed that the La Masia graduate only had his sights set on finally fulfilling his lifelong dream of playing for the Barça senior team.
Bellerin is known to have also waived off any payments owed to him by the Gunners, in order to ensure he completed his deadline day switch to the Catalan giants.
The ex-Arsenal defender has joined the side amidst a right-back crisis, considering now-AC Milan star Sergino Dest never cemented his place in the team under Xavi.
With Sergi Roberto and Ronaldo Araujo continuing not to be the ideal candidate for the role, it has only been Jules Kounde that has looked like somewhat of a natural fit in the position.
However, the French international shines the brightest as a centre-back, which makes the addition of a right-back by trade such as Hector Bellerin’s a welcome one, especially due to his desire to represent Barcelona