Barcelona are reportedly keeping tabs on Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta and see the 40-year-old as a managerial candidate for the future.
Arteta began his career as an assistant to former Blaugrana boss Pep Guardiola at Manchester City before taking over as Arsenal manager in December 2019.
The Spaniard won the FA Cup and the Community Shield in his first half-season at Arsenal, but their Premier League performances were disappointing.
Arteta’s future has been put into doubt in the past due to Arsenal’s domestic struggles, as the ex-Everton man has failed to steer the Gunners back into the top four.
However, Arsenal have had a fantastic start to the season under the Spaniard this season, scooping up 31 points from the first 36 available in the Premier League to sit top of the league.
The Gunners have also qualified for the Europa League knockout rounds, and Arteta was rewarded with a new contract until 2025 in May.
Barcelona Considering Mikel Arteta As Future Manager?
Arteta had been linked with Barcelona prior to the appointment of Xavi, and Sport says that the Catalan club are still interested in the former midfielder.
According to the report, Barcelona officials “highly value” Arteta’s work at Arsenal, but they are unlikely to part ways with Xavi for several years.
Arteta is believed to have close friendships with both Jordi Cruyff and Mateu Alemany, which would help Barcelona’s chances of appointing him, but the Arsenal manager has no intentions to leave the Emirates.
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Furthermore, Barcelona were reportedly pleased by Arteta’s management of the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang situation, with the Arsenal manager not hesitating to revoke the striker’s captaincy for disciplinary breaches.
Arteta has won 87, drawn 21 and lost 39 of Arsenal’s 147 matches in charge over the last three years, and his team will look to finish first in their Europa League group when they face FC Zurich on Thursday.
The Gunners will be joined in the Europa League knockout round by Barcelona, who can only finish third in their Champions League group as they prepare for back-to-back seasons in Europe’s second tier.
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