Hector Bellerin leaves Barcelona for Sporting CP

Barcelona, Jan 31, 2023 (AFP) - Spanish international right-back Hector Bellerin has left Barcelona for Sporting CP, the two sides announced Tuesday minutes before the close of the transfer window.

Sporting said the player had signed until the end of the current season.

Neither side gave any other details of the deal.

Bellerin, who came through the Barcelona youth system, joined Arsenal aged 16 and played almost 240 games for the London club.

He returned to Barcelona as a free agent at the start of the season but struggled to win a place in the starting line-up.

On Tuesday morning coach Xavi told a press conference: "Bellerin has asked to leave so he can play more, which I understand perfectly."