Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted he would have represented England during his playing career if he had been allowed to switch his international allegiance from Spain.
Arteta spent 11 years in the Premier League with Everton and Arsenal but never earned a senior cap for Spain despite his impressive performances in England. Softfootball reports that the Spaniard faced fierce competition for a place in Spain’s midfield, with the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, David Silva and Santi Cazorla all ahead of him.
In 2010, former England manager Fabio Capello and the Football Association explored the possibility of convincing Arteta to represent the Three Lions.
The move, however, failed to materialise because FIFA’s eligibility rules at the time did not permit the switch.
Current regulations are more flexible, allowing players such as Declan Rice to represent England after previously featuring for the Republic of Ireland at youth level.
Arteta has now revealed that he would have gladly accepted the opportunity to play for England had the rules permitted it.
“I was thinking about that the other day,” Arteta said.
I was actually talking to Edu about that at lunch. I would have done it. I feel very proud about it.
It was OK. If you cannot do it, you cannot do it. I wasn’t prepared to fight against the world.
Arteta will now turn his attention back to club football as Arsenal prepare to face Bournemouth in the Premier League this weekend.
the Arsenal boss continues to enjoy a successful managerial career in England, where he has established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading coaches after narrowly missing out on the league title in recent seasons.
