Mikel Arteta only has 18 months left to run on his Arsenal contract, but the Gunners manager is unlikely to join Barcelona as the Spaniards concede defeat in their hope to pry him away
Mikel Arteta has 18 months left to run on his Arsenal deal(PA)
Club legend Xavi surprised everyone associated with the Blaugrana when he confirmed he’d be stepping down from his role as manager, less than 12 months after winning the La Liga title. Since his announcement last month, Barcelona have been linked with several big names, including Gunners boss Arteta.
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With that being said, Arteta did issue an emphatic response when asked about the rumours touting him as Xavi’s successor. He told reporters: “That’s totally fake news.
“What you read yesterday is… I don’t know where it is coming from, and it is totally untrue. I am really upset about it. I could not believe [it]. I don’t know where it is coming from and it has no source.
“It has got nothing, and I think we have to be very cautious when you talk about personal things to put it in the way it was put yesterday. I am in the right place. I am with the right people.
Mikel Arteta was previously touted as the man to take over from Xavi at Barcelona
“I feel really good about it. As I said many times, I am invested in a beautiful journey with this football club, with these players, these staff, our people, and there is still a lot to do.”
Those remarks may have done the trick when it comes to cooling Barcelona’s interest, as Spanish outlet Sport claim the La Liga titans have now turned their attention to other targets as Arsenal stand firm. Thomas Tuchel and Julian Nagelsmann are two names that have been linked instead.
The same aforementioned reports have also claimed that Barcelona president Joan Laporta has asked Xavi to consider remaining in his role for another campaign.
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