Barcelona manager Xavi has confirmed that right-back Hector Bellerin has asked to leave the club amid interest from Sporting Lisbon.
The 27-year-old returned to Catalonia last summer after an 11-year spell with Arsenal, having left the La Masia academy in 2011 to join the Gunners.
Bellerin only signed a 12-month deal with Xavi's side after his departure from Arsenal on a free transfer, but he has struggled to make a name for himself back at Camp Nou.
As a result, the right-back is now expected to join Sporting as a replacement for Pedro Porro, who is on the verge of sealing a long-awaited deadline day move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Xavi confirmed Bellerin's desire to head elsewhere and insisted that his side would be willing to bring in a new face before the window slams shut, saying: "We're open to signing one new player, Bellerin asked to leave. We are on it."
Bellerin's move to Sporting is expected to be a loan until the rest of the season after the Portuguese giants failed with a £15m offer for Brighton & Hove Albion's Tariq Lamptey.
Bellerin has made a paltry seven appearances for La Blaugrana during the 2022-23 campaign, starting just one La Liga game and appearing as an unused substitute in their last eight in the top flight.
Ben Knapton
