Reported £6m ex-Rangers responds to links surrounding stunning Barcelona move

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed speculation that he could return to Barcelona,

some 22 years after leaving the Nou Camp for Rangers and Ibrox.

The 41-year-old former Ibrox midfielder was said to be returning to

the Catalan giants after Barca star Xavi Hernandez announced his retirement at the end of the season.

left Barcelona permanently as a 20-year-old in 2002, signing a £6 million contract to join Rangers.

In the 22 years since, the midfielder has carved himself a fantastic career in football,

playing for Real Sociedad, Everton, and eventually Arsenal, whom he has managed since 2019.

Mikel Arteta shot down Barcelona reports

Directly addressing the links, Mikel Arteta claims the Barcelona reports

have been upsetting to him with his full focus on the manager’s job at Arsenal.

The Spanish coach has successfully changed the Gunners from

Premier League underdogs to possible championship contenders,

with the team now contending with Manchester City and Liverpool for the top prize.

The former Rangers player also condemned “fake news” and asked journalists to

be more cautious in their reporting in the future.

“That’s totally fake news,” Arteta stated. “I’m not sure where it’s coming from;

it’s completely false, and I’m very upset about it.”

“I couldn’t believe it. It has no sources.

You have to use caution when writing things as they were yesterday.”

Former Rangers star has unfinished business at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta is definitely dedicated to the Arsenal project,

and the former Barcelona midfielder will not return to the club as things stand.

More than two decades after joining Rangers,

where he impressed the season before after facing them while on loan at PSG,

it is not yet time for Arteta to return to the Nou Camp.

Mikel Arteta appears to be aiming for the Premier League trophy,

and we believe he will have unfinished business with the Gunners until that goal is met.

when Arteta won a memorable treble with Rangers, and it’s all on the line this season.

The Gunners are now in third place in the table, five points behind leaders Liverpool,

with Manchester City separating the two clubs.

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