Bellerin flattered by Barcelona interest, admits he's happy at Arsenal

PFA Team of the Year honouree and pacey Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin has admitted that he is flattered by speculation linking him with a move back to Barcelona, but insists that he is happy in London.

The sound of collective sighs of relief fill the streets of Islington.

Having been snubbed by Spanish national team manager Vincente del Bosque and in search of his first senior cap, Bellerin concedes that his focus is on Arsenal and making the La Furia Roja.

"Well, the truth is that right now this does not interest me, because I am focused on the national team," Bellerin said.

"For those things I have an agent who deals with off-the-field issues. When you have a good season, news like this always emerges."

A good season is an understatement.

Bellerin, 21, cemented his status as one of Europe's best emerging defenders this season, snatching the first-choice duties from Mathieu Debuchy. He was named the Premier League's best full-back, appearing in all but two of Arsenal's league matches this season, and chipped in a goal and five assists.

With talk that Barca full-back Dani Alves is poised for a move to five-time consecutive Scudetto winners Juventus, Bellerin's name has begun to float around despite La Balugrana's acquisition of Aleix Vidal and the versatility of Sergi Roberto.

"I do not know very well what's happening at Barcelona. If Alves leaves they will need a new right-back, but there are a lot of good players around Europe."

Even with the interest, Bellerin prefers to focus on matters he has control over.

"I am very misinformed about it, these are questions for my agent, but I am happy to attract the interest of such big clubs, that's always nice.

"I have said it before: I am very happy where I am and I do not think about anything else than the national team."