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Arteta on shortlist to become Barcelona boss after presidential election

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is reportedly on the shortlist to become Barcelona manager, after the presidential elections take place next week.

The Spaniard has only been at the helm at the Emirates since December 2019, yet already has plenty of admirers given his impressive work as assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The former Everton midfielder has also already guided Arsenal to the FA Cup in his relatively short time at the club as manager, although the current campaign has not gone totally according to plan, the Gunners currently in tenth and eight points of a Champions League place.

While his inconsistent side have underperformed so far this season, Arteta has been praised for his faith in the club’s young crop of talent and has handed regular minutes to the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in recent months.

According to Catalan radio, as per the Mirror, that trust in youth and his style of play have clearly caught the eye, with Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta setting his sights on installing Arteta as the new manager at the Nou Camp, should he win the upcoming elections.

Laporta was previously the president of the Catalan giants between 2003 and 2010 and was the man who appointed the then inexperienced Guardiola as first-team manager in 2008.

The 58-year-old – who is the favourite to became the club’s next president – is keen to bring in Arteta in a similarly bold move, with club legend Xavi Hernandez seemingly not interested in returning to La Liga as manager.

The club’s current boss, Ronald Koeman, is likely to be moved on following the elections, with La Blaugrana looking likely to miss out on the La Liga title and facing an almost certain Champions League exit after their first-leg hammering at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

As for Arteta, he is not only a product of the famed La Masia academy, but will also appeal to Laporta due to his connection to Guardiola.

Read – The longest winning runs by teams from Europe’s big five leagues

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