Mikel Arteta opens up about Barcelona interest

The Arsenal manager on the shortlist of Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta.

Mikel Arteta has opened up about being linked with the Barcelona manager job. The current Arsenal manager was one of the names of Joan Laporta to take over should he win the presidency.

When asked about the rumor, the former Barça academy graduate said Barcelona is always an option for him but that he is content at the moment with Arsenal.

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"“Obviously, I was raised there as a player so there will always be a link,” Arteta said. “But I am completely focused on the work I have to do here, we have a lot to do and I’m really enjoying it.“Today and tomorrow I am the coach of Arsenal Football Club and I want to do much better than what we have done.”Source: Sport"

Spanish radio RAC1 was the first to link Arteta with the club should Ronald Koeman not be brought back next season.

However, the validity to that claim has been brought into question with other reports flat out refuting that rumor.

Aside from being a former Barcelona player, the reason why there was a link in the first place is because he used to Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. The rationale is that he would be able to transfer what he learned during his time with Guardiola over to Barcelona as manager.

If Koeman is not brought back next season, Xavi Hernandez seems to be everyone’s favorite choice to take over. However, Laporta does not appear to be completely sold on the former midfielder and thinks he needs a little more experience.

For now, everything is up in the air until after the elections. Once a new president is chosen, some of the questions, including who will be in charge next season, should be answered.