Barcelona VP hints at re-signing Arsenal's Bellerin

Barcelona could be close to plucking yet another former academy player from Arsenal's grasp.

Following eight years in Barca's youth system, Hector Bellerin made the switch to north London after manager Arsene Wenger presented him with an opportunity to play first-team football on a regular basis - something the Spanish champions couldn't guarantee with Dani Alves in the fold at right back.

Now, with Alves' departure and Barca's lack of a true right back, the Catalan side's vice president, Jordi Mestre, thinks it's just a matter of time before the 21-year-old returns to the Camp Nou.

“We’ve already seen him as a Cule (Barcelona fan)," Mestre told Spanish outlet Sport, as translated by the London Evening Standard. "He’s a great player, there’s no doubt about that."

“Wenger convinced him to move (in 2011) and promised him something which we couldn’t.

“We could not promise him that within two years he would be playing in Dani Alves’ place.”

He continued by citing past examples of previous academy players, such as former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who were sold and matured with other teams before making their return to Barcelona.

“Look at the cases of Cesc, (Gerard) Pique, (Jordi) Alba and Denis Suarez … I hope the same thing will happen with (Sergi) Samper, too," Mestre added.

“It’s positive that (these players) get minutes at other clubs. It is dynamic which has always provided good results for players that carry the Barca DNA in their blood.”

Luckily for Arsenal fans, Bellerin doesn't appear to be headed down the same route as Fabregas, as he professed he's "very happy" at Arsenal after learning about Barca's interest earlier in the year.