Arsenal full-back Nacho Monreal has expressed his hope to share the pitch with team-mate Hector Bellerin next season, in spite of interest from Barcelona.
The Spanish international has been linked with a move to his former club, with the Catalan giants showing keen interest and in spite of the 22-year-old signing a new six-year deal with the Gunners in November the link hasn't cooled.
And with new coach Ernesto Valverde looking to strengthen his squad ahead of the new season, and midfielder Denis Suarez recently suggesting that Bellerin was pondering a move, the Barcelona academy recruit might ultimately end up in Spain before the end of the transfer window.
Monreal though insists that he doesn't see his team-mate leaving the club as manager Arsene Wenger counts on him.
"He's an Arsenal player and almost certainly he will stay here", Monreal told Mundo Deportivo.
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"Hector is a very important player for us and the boss has already reiterated that he counts on him.
"Now they will have to negotiate between the clubs and we will see what happen, but almost for sure he will continue with us."
Since arriving from Barcelona as a youngster back in 2011 and making his senior debut in 2013, Bellerin has featured 115 time for the Gunners and has 14 assists to his name.
