Mikel Arteta 'will be a manager one day' says Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has already identified his next No 2 should Mikel Arteta leave for Arsenal. Arteta came desperately close to succeeding Arsene Wenger in 2018 before the Arsenal board baulked at the risk of appointing a novice manager and elected for Unai Emery instead.
Arteta is said to be in the running again following Emery’s dismissal on Friday and Arsenal have received a boost in their pursuit of the Spaniard.
The Mirror claim Guardiola has already locked his eyes on Giovanni van Bronckhorst becoming his chief assistant.
Van Bronckhorst has worked for the City Group since the summer where he planned to develop his coaching skills at the many clubs owned by the consortium.
But the Dutchman has spent more and more time at the Etihad Stadium of late and Guardiola believes the former midfielder has what it takes to step back into the coaching game.
Arsenal given boost in Mikel Arteta pursuit with Pep Guardiola eyeing Man City replacement (Image: Getty)
Van Bronckhorst was assistant coach at Feyenoord from 2011 to 2015 before taking on the main job for four years, winning one Eredivisie and two KNVB Cups.
There have been questions about Guardiola’s future of late with Manchester City seemingly declining from their extraordinarily high level which he set.
The Catalan’s contract expires in June 2021 but he showed a willingness to go beyond that term prior to City’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle on Saturday.
“I’m open, yes,” Guardiola said when asked whether he would consider a new deal. “I’m so comfortable working with this club.”
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