Barcelona Contacts Arsenal Manager Arteta’s Reps: Could Arteta be Heading to Camp Nou?
Barcelona is not giving up on their pursuit of Mikel Arteta as they continue their search for a new head coach. Reports from Spain suggest that Barcelona has reached out to Arteta’s representatives, despite the Arsenal manager dismissing rumors of a potential move.
Xavi’s impending departure as Barcelona head coach has left the Catalan giants in search of a suitable replacement. Arteta quickly emerged as a frontrunner for the job, with Spanish newspaper Sport even claiming that he was seriously considering leaving Arsenal for Barcelona. However, Arteta was quick to deny the speculation, labeling it as “totally fake news” and expressing his disappointment with the links.
Despite Arteta’s dismissal, Barcelona remains keen on securing his services. According to Spanish publication Relevo, club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco are impressed with the job Arteta has done at Arsenal. They believe his experience in coaching and player development aligns perfectly with what Barcelona needs for their young squad. Additionally, Arteta’s connection to the club, having played in the academy and for their B team, adds to his appeal. Notably, he also worked under Pep Guardiola during his time at the club.
Arteta’s profile aligns with what Laporta and Deco are looking for in Xavi’s successor. Despite Arteta’s previous dismissal of the rumors, Barcelona has reportedly reached out to his representatives to gauge his interest in a potential move back to Spain.
Negotiating a deal with Arsenal could prove complicated, but not impossible. Arteta has just over a year left on his current contract, which runs until 2025. An agreement would likely hinge on Arteta requesting to leave Arsenal and negotiating his own release from the club. Barcelona, facing financial limitations, would struggle to pay a large compensation fee.
While Arteta remains an attractive option, Barcelona is also considering other candidates. Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi is another potential option, though extracting him from his contract would come at a cost of at least £12 million. Two other prominent choices are former Germany boss Hansi Flick, who is currently available, and Thomas Tuchel, who will be leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season without the need for a compensation fee.
As Barcelona continues its search for Xavi’s successor, the possibility of Arteta making a move to Camp Nou remains a topic of interest. Watch this space for further updates on this developing story.
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