A member of Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta’s team has categorically denied reports that they intend to appoint Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta if they win the club’s presidency.
Laporta appointed Pep Guardiola during his first spell as president at Barca and it was claimed that he was interested in appointing his former assistant at Manchester City, but Rafa Yuste has refuted those rumours:
“I completely deny it. I know that Mikel Arteta is a great coach, a friend of Pep, but I have not spoken with him. And we convey all our confidence in Koeman.”
Whether those comments will come as a relief will depend on where you stand on Arteta’s performance as Gunners boss. Yuste’s remarks were met with a mixed response from fans on Twitter:
Happy to hear this but I also expected denial.
— Celestine Mbaluka (@mbaluks) March 2, 2021
WELL THAT’S GREAT
— Stefan (@Stani1227) March 2, 2021
Nice pic.twitter.com/70tcogFsnG
— K? (@Kdoesntknowball) March 2, 2021
We are stuck with him guys
— Gabrieldini (@brickwarl) March 2, 2021
Artekkers is staying!!! pic.twitter.com/sNTv29mCkS
— Josh™???? (@Moleicest3rFC) March 2, 2021
— Prakul (@pirakull) March 2, 2021
Good now stay tf away from him @FCBarcelona
— Abhinav Singh (@abhinavsing157) March 2, 2021
Looool Arteta wouldn’t last a month at Barca
— Rashidinatör (@rashidinator) March 2, 2021
Considering the rumours emanated from a radio station in Spain, rather than anything more concrete, it isn’t a surprise that the reports turned out to be false.
With Arteta being a disciple of Guardiola, there was always a possibility that the Spaniard would be mentioned in terms of the Barca job, but there are likely to be many other candidates if the next president opts to sack Ronald Koeman.
