Arsenal transfer news: Hector Bellerin says if Barcelona call him he 'will not pick up the phone'

The 21-year-old full-back has been persistently linked with a return to Catalonia

Bellerin has established himself as one of the Premier League's best full-backs (Getty)

Hector Bellerin, the Arsenal full-back, has pledged not to pick up the phone if Barcelona attempt to call him.

Bellerin, who arrived in north London from the Catalan club as a youth player, has been linked with a return to the Nou Camp in recent seasons.

The 21-year-old has also attracted interest from Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, but Bellerin has now suggested he would not listen to offers.

When presented with a fan’s question by the DW Channel on YouTube, he responded: “If Barcelona contact me right now? I won’t pick up the phone.”

Bellerin has, despite his young age, established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading full-backs since breaking into Arsène Wenger’s first-team.

The Spain international has made 92 appearances since his debut in September 2014 and signed a new long-term contract deal the following summer.

Bellerin’s best showings in an Arsenal shirt came last season, which ended with him being named in the PFA’s Team of the Year.

Bellerin has previously claimed he would not leave Arsenal for a return to Barcelona like his compatriot Cesc Fabregas, who made the same switch in 2011.

“I think that’s a wrong thought because if I wanted to be at Barcelona I would have stayed there. My challenge was to come to England and I came here with everything,” Bellerin said in May 2015.

“And I came here to stay and to cement my place in the first team and be here for four more years. If I wanted to have played for Barcelona in the future I would have just stayed there and made my way there.

“I made that decision when I was young to come over here, and I’m not thinking about my future, I’m just thinking about playing for Arsenal and doing well.”