Hector Bellerin ‘likes Italy’ but his long-term Arsenal contract could prevent a move to Serie A, according to the player’s agent Albert Botines.
Bellerin is only just returning to full fitness after recovering from knee ligament damage earlier in the campaign.
The club are in need of the energetic right-back, who has emerged as one of the leaders in the dressing room over the past year.
The La Masia graduate is ostensibly open to playing in Serie A, though, according to his agent.
Botines, who heads up player agency Goal Management, spoke on Sky Italia on Thursday morning.
“At the moment he is focused on the team’s commitments,” Botines said.
“He comes back from a bad injury and is returning to his [normal] levels.
“He likes Italy, the interest of an Italian club has been there but I can’t reveal it.
“He has a long contract and it won’t be easy to take him away from Arsenal.
“He is vice-captain, we will see how the season will go.”
Bellerin is one of three vice-captains in Unai Emery’s leadership group following the exile of Granit Xhaka, who looks destined to leave the Emirates Stadium in January after telling fans to “f*** off” in the side’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace last month.
Ironically, Bellerin dealt with Xhaka’s incident like a true leader, being the first player to break silence over the matter.
“We are all humans, we all have emotions, and sometimes it’s not easy dealing with them,” he tweeted.
“It’s time to lift each other up, not to push each other away. We only win when we are together.”
