Mikel Arteta has left open the possibility of taking charge of another Premier League club, amidst ongoing speculation about his future at Arsenal.
Arteta’s remarks come in the wake of reports linking him with a move to Barcelona after the announcement that manager Xavi will depart the position this summer.
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Sources suggest that Arteta is a prominent name on Barcelona’s shortlist, and there’s apparent interest from the 41-year-old in the role.
However, during his pre-match press conference on Monday, Arteta dismissed such rumors, emphasizing his dedication to Arsenal, a team he has managed since 2019.
Nevertheless, when asked about the prospect of managing a different Premier League club in the future, Arteta intriguingly hinted that such a scenario could indeed unfold.
‘Today, no. But I don’t know, I played for two big clubs in this country,’ Arteta replied.
‘I’ve moved around in different things, I’m extremely young, and I don’t know, I don’t know what’s going to happen.’
Highlighting his diverse playing career, Arteta served as captain for both Arsenal and Everton. His playing journey included stints at prominent clubs such as Barcelona, PSG, Rangers, and Real Sociedad.
Before returning to the Emirates, Arteta also held the position of assistant manager at Manchester City and was previously considered a potential successor to Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.
In contrast to Arteta’s openness about potential managerial opportunities in England, Jurgen Klopp has firmly declared that he will not manage another English club after confirming his departure from Liverpool at the end of the season.
Asked about Klopp’s impact on the Premier League, Arteta added: ‘I think he’s made this league much better. First of all the person, the character, the charisma, the way of transmitting his ideas and passion for the game is something special.
‘He’s had a big contribution for the growth of this league and I love the way he did it. The emotion that he put in and when you see the human side explaining the reasons behind it and the challenges and everything that is related to our job, I think it was spot on.
‘When someone has done what he’s done for that football club in the league you have to respect that and basically say thank you because I think he made the league better, every manager better and this league much more beautiful and intense.’
