Hector Bellerin will be so glad he decided to make the switch from Arsenal football club to Real Betis on a season-long loan on August 31, 2021. He has written his name on the list of the players who have won the prestigious Copa del Rey.
Hector Bellerin has been an Arsenal player since he was a teenager. He joined the Premier League club from the FC Barcelona youth system on July 1, 2011.
The 27-year-old Spanish left-back gained promotion to Arsenal’s senior team on July 1, 2014, after spending his first three years at the club in the club’s youth system.
Since he gained promotion to the club’s senior team, Hector Bellerin has played 239 times in all competitions for Arsenal in which he scored 9 goals and provided 29 assists.
Bellerin decided to join Real Betis on loan after his game time at Arsenal started dropping. He felt the Spanish club would reinvigorate his football career and probably give him a chance to return to Spain’s national team.
Note that Bellerin has made just four appearances for Spain national team since he made his international debut on May 29, 2011. He has been looking forward to increasing his number of appearances on the team.
However, Hector Bellerin’s decision to return to Spain on loan has only helped him to win a major Spanish title in a season Arsenal are battling to qualify for a UEFA Champions League spot.
Note that before Bellerin left Arsenal on loan, he has helped the Premier League club to win three FA Cups, and three Community Shields. The last time the out-of-favor Spain international won a major title with Arsenal was in 2021 (Community Shield).
During the Copa del Rey final between Real Betis and Valencia on Saturday, April 23, Hector Bellerin provided an assist for Real Betis’ only goal in the match.
The regular time ended in a 1-1 draw before the two teams went into a penalty shootout. At the end of a thrilling shootout, Real Betis scored five of their spot-kicks while Valencia scored four.
Hector Bellerin dedicates the title to his father Maty
Hours after winning his first Spanish title, Hector Bellerin took to all his social media platforms to share a picture of himself and his father, Maty holding the Copa del Rey title.
In the caption, Bellerin appreciated his father in Spanish for being a supporter of Real Betis. “Thank you Dad for being from Betis”, he wrote in Spanish.
Recall that when he was thinking of leaving Arsenal last summer, the Spanish footballer had options of joining bigger clubs in Europe but decided to settle with Real Betis.
Hector Bellerin who was reportedly earning £90,301 per week at Arsenal decided to accept a pay cut just to join Real Betis on loan, claiming that it was his father’s dream for him to play for the Spanish club.
After signing for Real Betis last summer, Hector Bellerin said: “Being able to make my father happy with a dream that is his and fulfilling it for him, makes me very excited.
“It is a feeling my father has instilled since I was little. As a child, I was a bit of a turncoat, but he forced me to wear the Betis shirt.”
On the fact that he had to accept a pay cut to join Betis, Bellerin added: “Two weeks before the end of the market, (sealing the move) seemed complicated – but it became a reality.
“Football is not just money, sentiment is very important.”
Since Bellerin joined Betis last summer, the 27-year-old Spanish left-back has played 31 games in all competitions in which he provided five assists. He is currently earning £58,000-a-week at Betis. Bellerin is expected to return to Arsenal at the end of the 2021-2022 season.
Viva er Beti OÉ, la copa OÉ 💚🤍 pic.twitter.com/hl7hraygPH
— Héctor Bellerín (@HectorBellerin) April 24, 2022
