Héctor Bellerín reaps reward for turning back on Barcelona

Starting in the FA Cup final today is fine reward for Héctor Bellerín’s decision to leave Barcelona as a teenager and move to north London.

Based on his peers, the Arsenal right back might otherwise have been in the stands watching the Catalan club in the Champions League final, a week today, or been released and playing in the Spanish second division.

Bellerín should also pinch himself after emerging from the academy and an unremarkable loan spell at Watford last year to position himself as rivalling Mathieu Debuchy for a starting place when the Frenchman is fully fit.

The 20-year-old