Arteta ‘upset’ over false links to succeed Xavi at Barcelona،
Mikel Arteta has dismissed rumors he could leave Arsenal for Barcelona at the end of the season, calling them “completely false” and saying he is “upset” by the reports.
Reports in Spain said on Sunday that the 41-year-old coach was set to succeed Xavi at Spotify Camp Nou, where he attended the club's legendary youth academy, La Masia, as a teenager.
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Multiple sources have told ESPN that Arteta remains fully committed to Arsenal, and he reflected that stance ahead of his side's Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest.
“It’s totally fake news,” Arteta said at a press conference on Monday when asked if he was going to leave. “What you read yesterday is… I don't know where it came from and it's completely false. It really bothers me.
“I couldn't believe [it]. I don't know where it comes from and it has no source. He has nothing and I think we have to be very careful when you talk about personal things and not phrase things the way they were presented yesterday.
“I'm in the right place. I'm with the right people. I feel really good. As I've said many times, I'm invested in a great journey with this football club, with these players, this staff, our people, and there is still much to do.
“I'm very cautious about speaking publicly about my personal matters and when someone makes a statement saying something I said or did, it's upsetting.
“I understand that we are in this industry, but number two, I don't think anyone deserves to hear news like that and I've always been very honest and I've always said the opposite: how much I am happy, how grateful I am and how much I appreciate where I am now so much, that's why I'm upset.”
Sources have told ESPN that Arsenal are relaxed about Arteta's commitment to the club, although they are yet to open negotiations over an extension to his contract, which expires in the summer of 2025.
“It's something [a contract extension] it will happen naturally when it needs to happen and that’s it,” said Arteta, who has also been mooted as a possible successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Arteta spent three years as manager under Guardiola before taking his first steps in management at Arsenal in December 2019.
Asked if he could ever manage another club in England, Arteta replied: “Today, no. But I don't know. I played for two big clubs in this country. I I've moved to different places. I'm extremely young and I don't know what's going to happen.
Thomas Partey is still unavailable as he recovers from a hamstring injury, but Declan Rice and Gabriel will hope to return from minor muscle strains suffered in Arsenal's previous match against Crystal Palace.
