How Mikel Arteta’s past could come back to haunt Arsenal

But could the situation that Arsenal used to lure Arteta to the club in 2019 be what’s used by Barcelona to secure his services as their next manager in 2024?

Arteta may have played for Arsenal, but he also played for Barcelona, and was a product of the famous La Masia academy between 1997 and 1999. He played over 40 times for Barcelona’s B team, but failed to make any senior appearances for his boyhood club, before leaving for Rangers on a permanent deal in 2002.

The job at one of the biggest clubs in the world doesn’t come around too often, and considering he’s a former Barcelona player, it’s not hard to believe that the managerial role may at least be something that Arteta considers ahead of the summer.

Mikel Arteta is the favourite to become Barcelona’s next manager

The bookies seem to agree with our sentiment too, as Coral has Arteta as the favourite to take over from Xavi Hernandez as Barcelona’s new manager come the end of the season, with odds of 5/2.

As noted, only Arteta and the people close to him know how he really feels about potentially becoming Barcelona manager, but the bookies seem to be of the belief that he’s the front-runner, at least as of now.

Barcelona are in need of serious help right now, and aren’t actually in a position too dissimilar from the one that Arsenal found themselves in when they hired Arteta just shy of five years ago.

Not only considering his ties to the club, but Barcelona’s board will look at the work Arteta’s done, taking Arsenal from a struggling side to a title challenger in just a few years, and will likely feel that he’s who they want to take over from their former captain.

The next few months are set to be crazy in the world of managerial changes. Not only could a former Barcelona man be set to take on one of the biggest jobs in the world in Arteta, but a former Real Madrid midfielder could be set for a new role as the boss of one of the world’s superclubs too.

Xabi Alonso is also seen as the ‘clear favourite’ to become Liverpool’s next manager, as Jurgen Klopp announced he’ll be leaving the club at the end of the season. The ex-Liverpool midfielder is, with Coral, priced at 4/6 to become the Red’s next permanent boss.

Odds on Barcelona’s next manager

• Mikel Arteta – 5/2
• Rafael Marquez – 3/1
• Jurgen Klopp – 8/1
• Roberto De Zerbi – 8/1
• Ruben Amorim – 8/1
• Thiago Motta – 10/1
• Jose Mourinho – 12/1
• Julian Nagelsmann – 12/1
• Unai Emery – 12/1
• Ange Postecoglu – 16/1
• Pep Guardiola – 25/1

View the latest odds on Barcelona’s next manager.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.