Aliaksandr Hleb In Talks With Pep Guardiola About Barcelona Future

Aliaksandr Hleb has already confessed that he has not reached the level expected of him with Barcelona this season following his move from Arsenal in the summer.

As the current campaign enters its final stages, the Belarusian has been forced to further assess his Camp Nou future as he continues to warm the bench for the Blaugrana. He has revealed that he is having ongoing talks with coach Pep Guardiola to get clarification on his status in the squad.

“I have spoken with Guardiola but the content of our conversation will stay between us,” he was quoted as saying by El Mundo Deportivo.

“But I have expressed to him that my firm desire is to demonstrate that signing for Barcelona was not a mistake. I want to settle down in the team and I want to achieve great things in the Primera Division.”

Hleb also acknowledged that the competition for first team places is fierce, especially in his position, but it is still no reason for him to accept his continuous exclusion.

“[Thierry] Henry, [Lionel] Messi and [Andres] Iniesta are my direct rivals for a spot in the Barca team,” he said.

“These three are the regulars but it’s hardly any consolation to accept that I am behind them as the substitute. If I were 20-years-old, I would have time to wait for my opportunity, but I am 28-years-old and things are different.”

The winger, however, is not about to panic just yet and he is hoping that his experience will help him overcome his problems soon.

“At Stuttgart and Arsenal, I also had trouble getting into the first team,” he explained. “I’m not going mad with this issue because it is not something new to me and I know how to handle it.

“And I am not about to start doubting myself either. However, it is only logical that I am unhappy. I would not be a good professional if I did not want more involvement in the team.”

Hleb has recently been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, although the Bavarians have strongly dismissed the possibility that a transfer will materialise.  

KS Leong, Goal.com