Barcelona's on-loan winger to Birmingham City, Alexander Hleb hints at Arsenal return
Alexander Hleb, the 29-year-old Barcelona winger who is currently on-loan to Birmingham City, revealed he could make a return to former side Arsenal next season. The Belarusian’s loan-spell at St. Andrew’s will finish at the end of this campaign and he is
determined to stay in the English Premier League and hinted that he would most likely end up back at the Emirates Stadium.
Hleb has had an unlucky season with injuries because of which he has failed to establish himself in the first team with Birmingham. The attacking midfielder c*m winger also unfortunately missed the clash against the Gunners in the final of the Carling Cup,
which his current side went on to win, successfully denying Arsenal a chance at silverware for yet another season.
While he has no intention of extending his stay at Birmingham City, he plans to do everything he can to help them improve their position in the English Premier League.
Hleb said while speaking to reporters, “This is a different experience although I prefer to play and to enjoy football. But I will give 100 per cent for this club every weekend.”
Hleb admitted playing with the Blues had been tougher than he had imagined, having previously played for top sides like Arsenal and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38605. The Belarus winger said he had enjoyed the experience with Birmingham, where he had played more challenging football
which was unfortunately not suited to his style of football.
When asked if he wished to make a return to the Catalan side at the end of the current campaign, Hleb said he would prefer to remain in England. He confessed he felt that Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola preferred to play Spanish players, which had damaged
his chances at earning a place in the first team with the La Liga giants.
Hleb said his former Arsenal and Barcelona teammate http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Thierry-Henry-c34918 had suffered the same fate after which he left for the MLS. He continued, “Barcelona is the biggest club in the world but it is difficult when you are not from Spain. Guardiola picks the Spanish
players. I've not had a lot of chances to play there. I prefer to stay in the Premier League.”
The Barcelona winger maintained he would prefer to remain in the English Premier League and admitted he would like a return to the London club. He said, “Of course, I love Arsenal. It is always in my heart but now is too early to speak about a new club.
I want to give my best for Birmingham but if I have chance to go back (to Arsenal).....of course.”
Hleb joined Arsenal in 2005 from Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart for a fee of €15 million on a long-term deal. Despite an injury plagued career at the Emirates, Hleb managed to maintain his spot in the first team and made a total of 129 appearances and scored
10 goals in all competitions. He left for Barcelona in 2008 but failed to make an impact and since then has been on-loan to former side Stuttgart and currently Birmingham City.
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