Journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed whether Mikel Arteta could return to Manchester City and replace Pep Guardiola one day.
With all the speculation surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future at City, it is worthwhile to ponder if the Arsenal boss would fancy a return to the Etihad Stadium.
In January last year, the Catalan boss admitted that Mikel Arteta would have been the perfect heir to his throne had he left the Sky Blues earlier.
Instead, the 42-year-old went on to sign on the dotted line and become Arsenal boss in 2019, replacing Freddie Ljungberg, who was the club’s interim manager at the time.
Ben Jacobs reveals if Arteta will return to Man City as Guardiola replacement
Coincidentally, both Guardiola and Arteta’s contracts at City and Arsenal respectively expire in 2025 — adding fuel to the question about whether he could succeed the former in around a year’s time.
Having worked as the 52-year-old’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium, the Gunners boss would have a sense of familiarity, even if he was hired by the Sky Blues.
But Ben Jacobs has ruled out the possibility of Mikel Arteta emerging as the successor to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
On Bhavss14’s YouTube channel, he revealed: “I’m told that [Mikel] Arteta has already given a verbal indication to the Arsenal hierarchy that he wants to extend.”
“There may be a worry for some Arsenal fans, what if Pep Guardiola leaves at the end of this forthcoming season, would he go back to Manchester City? I’m told that’s a categorical no, that Arteta now won’t manage at another Premier League club.”
Unsurprising to hear such a revelation about Arteta
In our view, it does not come as a surprise that Mikel Arteta is not eyeing the Manchester City job when Pep Guardiola decides to vacate his seat.
After all the work Arteta has put in over the years to turn Arsenal into a title-challenging club, it would emerge as a shock if he turned around and joined any other team in world football.
Let alone City, who his team might have an advantage on in title races after Guardiola’s departure.
As for Manchester City, they will have to look elsewhere to replace Guardiola, with plenty of other candidates fitting the bill.
Despite Mikel Arteta being a world-class tactician, there are plenty of other managers who have the potential to do a wonderful job at Manchester City after Pep Guardiola departs the club.