Mikel Arteta has hinted at the possibility of heading to a new club following his tenure as the manager of Arsenal. However, the focus for the Gunners boss remains firmly on his current responsibilities at the North London club.
While there have been speculations linking him to Barcelona, with reports suggesting that the Catalan giants are already planning for a future without Xavi, Arteta stressed that he is not preoccupied with thoughts about his future options. When asked about the possibility of managing Barcelona or Real Madrid, Arteta expressed a desire to eventually return to Spain, his home country.
“Spain is my country. After being away for many years, it could be an option to come back to the league and gain new experiences. But not at this moment,” Arteta stated in an interview with FIFA.
Arteta also spoke highly of Xavi, his former teammate at Barcelona, acknowledging the significant impact he has had on the club. He praised Xavi’s character and his unwavering commitment to his footballing principles, stating that Barcelona was in need of a figure like him. Arteta commended Xavi for handling the pressure and remaining loyal to the club and players throughout the season, leading to a consistently strong performance from the team.