Bellerin admits Barcelona interest is 'special'

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Hector Bellerin has always maintained he does not want to go back to Barcelona, but the Arsenal man appears to have softened his stance.

Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin admits it is "special" to hear about reported interest from former club Barcelona.

The 22-year-old has regularly been linked with a potential move back to Camp Nou, despite having extended his Gunners contract  - reportedly until 2023 - last November.

"It's nice there are a lot of big clubs that are interested in me, but if one of those is Barcelona, that's special," he told Sport. "I don't forget I grew up in that home and I will never forget my stay at Barcelona."

Of his frustrations at Barca prior to joining Arsenal in 2011 he added: "I left Barcelona because I felt the club was not confident in me, I didn't feel valued; [I felt] disenchanted." 

"Barcelona's alleged interest in Bellerin is very hard to take seriously," he told a news conference. "He has just signed a new contract and still has many years left."

Tottenham's Kyle Walker, Southampton's Cedric Soares and Joao Cancelo of Valencia have also been linked with the LaLiga champions.