Arsenal loanee Bellerin only joined Real Betis after consulting data company to ensure best chance of making Spain squad

HECTOR BELLERIN used a data company to help him decide whether to join Real Betis on loan.

The Arsenal right-back, 26, based his move on achieving his objective of getting into the Spain national team.

Bellerin had slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal but seemingly had a few options to choose from during the transfer window, including Inter Milan.

He only has four international caps to his name but is determined to win a place in Luis Enrique's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

And after consulting data company Analytics FC, Bellerin settled on a loan move to Real Betis, according to The Athletic.

The Spaniard was influenced by a desire for game time and a manager who would suit his style, with Betis ranking high on a list of suitable clubs collated by Analytics FC.

The LaLiga outfit were in need of a regular right-back after last season's first-choice Emerson Royal returned to Barcelona after his loan ended - before he moved to Tottenham.

According to the data, playing in Spain will also increase Bellerin's chances of going to the World Cup.

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And fortunately for Bellerin, Betis is also the club he supported growing up.

It is believed to be the first transfer to involve a player collecting data on what move would suit him best.

But Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne did also commission a team of data analysts to aid him in his contract extension earlier this year - he now reportedly earns £385,000 a week.

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