Mikel Arteta is a shock target for incoming Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola. The Arsenal captain is a close friend of Guardiola and Guardiola's fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura. The three of them met earlier this year when Arteta travelled to Bayern Munich's Sabener Strasse training complex, report The Times.
Arteta's contract with the Gunners is set to expire at the end of the season having not yet signed a contract extension. Meanwhile, Guardiola is taking over Manuel Pellegrini's role as manager of Manchester City after ending his three-year reign at German giants, Bayern Munich.
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The two of them were reportedly deep in conversation after Arsenal's shock 2-0 win over Bayern Munich at the Emirates earlier this season. Arteta began his football career in Barcelona's famed La Masia academy along with Pep Guardiola and is considering reuniting with his old friend for the Manchester City project.
A recurring calf injury to Arteta has kept him out for most of this season but has used his time well in getting his coaching badges having helped train the Arsenal Under-13s and the Welsh Under-16s. Earlier this season, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, had admitted that Arteta was en route to work with the club post-retirement.
With 11 years of Premier League experience with Everton and Arsenal, Arteta could greatly help Guardiola ease into the English game a lot faster.
Arteta was always a 'team leader': Barcelona's Andres Iniesta
Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta – who spent time at La Masia with Mikel Arteta as well – recollected some of the memories they shared together and insisted that the Arsenal man was always a team leader. "(Arteta) is a very good player who, in the youth ranks, was a team leader."
Arteta, meanwhile, admitted that his time at the Catalan club defined his career. "I saw that I was at the best training academy in the world and it left a mark on me as well as principles that are the foundation of my career," he said.
Arsenal host Barcelona in the Champions League later tonight at the Emirates with the visitors the bookies' bet.
