Sorin
Well-known member
1-We don't know if we even after him. The player denied it,Roberto said before he isn't a fan of bringing players who left La Masia.
Remember last year when we were linked with Mustafi? even when everyone knew we are after Umtiti Catalan media kept saying Lucho want Mustafi and Roberto is trying to convince him with Umtiti. Bellerin is typically the guy the media would link to Barca. Position of need,Arsenal player and former La Masia
2-I think Bellerin has gone from being an overrated player to an underrated one,he is still a good RB and one of the top young talents in the position atm,younger than any other options btw.
I am not entertaining signing him,but I don't get the attitude of anyone but Bellerin.
3-While many players we signed from Arsenal didn't work out ,the truth is that most of them was signed for a reasonable fees considering their market value. From Henry (24M) to Vermaelen (10M + add-ons we were never gonna pay)
Porto and Benfica on the other hand are well known to sell with way over the market value. If -which as I said above I don't think it is true- we are after Bellerin I won't be surprised if the board think we can get him for same price as the others. Benfica is rumored to be asking for 50M for Semedo for example.
1. Fair enough. Still think something is there. Maybe it is the lazy journos linking us with a former La Masia player but there so many outlets doing it that i can't help but think that we are indeed interested.
2. Nobody underrates him, certainly not me. He is good but I think he is more suited to PL than La Liga. He is more pace than technique. While speed is very important in today's game, especially in a fullback's game, it is not the only attribute we need for a LB in Barcelona. I simply don't see him being able to do what is needed for him because his technique is average.
3. Like you said, Bellerin is not crazy for a move, stated last year and this year. He has a contract lasting until 2023. You mean to tell me he is going to move for anything less than a crazy fee? He's going to cost a bomb.
Those examples are players that wanted to move(Henry, Cesc etc.) or were injury prone(Vermaelen). Song and Vermaelen were too expensive for what they contributed. Nothing reasonable about millions thrown on useless players no matter how you spin it.
Neither Porto or Benfica are in stronger negotiation positions than Arsenal. I don't have to explain why.
Like I previously said, the main reason I really want us to steer clear of him is because he is lacking the necessary technique compared to others. Even if they all cost around the same ballpark i'd still pay Benfica's asking price before Arsenal's for Bellerin.
It's all in the air though.