PSG considered appointing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta

Paris Saint-Germain have revealed a secret that they considered appointing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for the managerial role in 2023 before landing Luis Enrique.

PSG reportedly thought of giving the head coach job to Mikel Arteta, as published by L’Equipe, a shocking revelation before Arsenal’s must-win Champions League meeting with Ligue 1 champions.

French publication L’Equipe have set the tone right before Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg clash tonight, disclosing that the Ligue 1 giants thought of appointing Arteta as their head coach two years ago.

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L’Equipe further claims that after the sacking of Christophe Galtier in the summer of 2023, PSG prepared a shortlist of possible managerial candidates, with Arsenal boss Arteta one of the names on the list – giving, the Spaniard played Les Parisiens in the 2001-02 season on loan at PSG in the initial days of his playing career.

However, PSG eventually ended up securing Luis Enrique’s services, who is on course to guide them to a potential quadruple, should they win the Champions League and Coupe de France titles.

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PSG’s interest for Arteta was however, due to his past as a former PSG player, even though the Spaniard was also held in high regard by some of the PSG owners.

Despite that, talks over a potential move to Parc des Princes never progressed beyond preliminary discussions.

Club sources have since dismissed claims of serious interest, insisting that Luis Enrique was their first-choice candidate from the outset.

The two European giants will square off in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final in midweek, at Parc des Princes, with the hosts holding on to a narrow 1-0 advantage thanks to Ousmane Dembele’s strike at the Emirates in the first leg.

While Luis Enrique’s men have already secured the Ligue 1 title, Arsenal will have to wait another year to snatch the Premier League from the hands of Liverpool.

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