Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has vehemently denied rumors linking him with a move to Barcelona to succeed Xavi as their next manager. The Spanish boss, who came through Barcelona’s youth academy, dismissed the reports as “totally untrue,” stating that he is focused on his current role at Arsenal.
Xavi recently announced that he would be stepping down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season, leading to speculation about his potential successor. Spanish newspaper Sport claimed that Arteta was considering leaving Arsenal to take up the role at his former club. However, Arteta quickly shut down these rumors, expressing his frustration and disbelief at the “fake news.”
Arteta, whose contract with Arsenal runs until 2025, emphasized his commitment to the Gunners and his satisfaction with the current setup. He stated, “I’m in the right place with the right people and feel really good about it. I’m embracing a beautiful journey with this club, and there’s still a lot to do. I have a strong relationship with the board.”
While Arteta did not completely rule out the possibility of future discussions regarding his contract, he emphasized that things would unfold naturally when the time is right. He remains focused on his responsibilities at Arsenal and is determined to continue building on their recent successes.
Arteta’s journey in football has been an impressive one. Although he never played a competitive game for Barcelona’s first team, he had successful spells at clubs like Rangers, Real Sociedad, Everton, and Arsenal during his playing career. Following his retirement, he worked as a coach under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before taking over as Arsenal boss in December 2019.
Under Arteta’s leadership, Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2020 and finished second in the Premier League last season, narrowly missing out on the title to Manchester City. Currently sitting third in the league, trailing leaders Liverpool by five points, Arteta is determined to push the club to new heights.
The Gunners also remain in contention in the Champions League, with a last-16 tie against Porto on the horizon. Arteta expressed the collective ambition within the club, stating, “There is a lot to do here, and we all share that ambition. We want more; we aren’t satisfied, and the club wants another push to go to another level. We have everyone on board to achieve it.”
As Arteta strongly denies any links to Barcelona, Arsenal fans can rest assured that their manager is fully committed to the club’s future. With his determination and ambition, Arteta aims to lead Arsenal to further success and establish them as a force to be reckoned with in both domestic and European competitions.