Barcelona not interested in Mikel Arteta as next head coach

Nicholas Hughes

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 2 min read

Barcelona have been linked with a move for current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, but the Blaugrana are now believed to be distancing themselves from any speculation.

Goal are reporting that Barca are not interested in the Gunners boss, after Catalan radio had previously hinted at their interest.

The initial report came with links to leading presidential candidate Joan Laporta selecting Arteta as his primary target if he was to be elected.

But Goal have now poured cold water on those rumours, insisting that nobody from the club has contacted the 38-year-old and there is no intention to do so.

Would Arteta do well at Barcelona?

Ronald Koeman was hired at the beginning of the season in a deal that took many by surprise given the way he had left his previous two club posts at Southampton and Everton.

The 57-year-old had coached the Dutch national team for around two-and-a-half years before Barcelona came knocking.

Koeman played 350 games for Barcelona in an established international career, while Arteta himself came through Barca’s La Masia academy but never made a first-team appearance.

Barca have overcome a difficult beginning to the season that was marred by Lionel Messi’s transfer saga and the eventual removal of previous president Josep Bartomeu.

The club now are now back up to second in La Liga on the back of a 15-game unbeaten run, but remain outsiders in the title race as Atletico Madrid are five points clear with a game in hand.

With Barca strapped for cash and unable to manoeuvre too much in the transfer market, Koeman has seen the elevation of young talents such as Pedri and Trincao pay dividends.

Koeman’s future not safe at Barca

However, and despite the denial of interest in Arteta, Goal claim that Koeman’s future at the Nou Camp remains very much up in the air.

As it is, Arteta’s Arsenal sit 10^th in the Premier League after also stumbling out of the blocks at the beginning of the campaign.

Barcelona’s next president is set to be elected in a week’s time and with the season suddenly just under three months from its conclusion, it could be about to be a very busy few months for the Catalan club.