Arsene Wenger rubbishes Hector Bellerin to Barcelona claims: He has an unbelievable number of years left

James Benge16 March 2017

Arsene Wenger has rejected speculation linking Hector Bellerin with a move to Barcelona mere months after he signed a new contract at Arsenal.

The Spanish giants identified Bellerin as the ideal long-term replacement for Dani Alves early in 2016 but were unable to convince their youth-team graduate to return to La Liga.

Bellerin put pen to paper on a six-and-a-half-year contract in November 2016 that made him one of the club’s most handsomely remunerated players at over £100,000-a-week.

Convincing the 21-year-old, one of Europe’s outstanding young defenders, to sign a new deal amid interest from Manchester City and Barcelona was rightly seen as a major coup at the Emirates and Wenger was dismissive of the suggestion Bellerin could still leave the club.

Arsenal's Premier League run-in

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“He has just extended his contract,” Wenger said. “It’s an unbelievable amount of years to go.

“I believe again it’s very difficult to take these things seriously.”

Wenger had been similarly unimpressed when asked of reports that long-serving first team coach Boro Primorac could be bound for Turkish club Konyaspor, claiming such suggestions were “fake news”.

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