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“My only dream was to play at Barça”. As a footballer Mikel Artetaone of the fashion coaches in the Champions League, remained without two of its great objectives. The first, debut in an official match with Barça's first team. The second, do it with the selection. And despite everything, when he remembers his career as a footballer, he does it Proud of the path traveled.
Arteta (San Sebastián, 1982) was ahead of his time. At a time where Spanish football was not yet defined by its midfielders, it ended up exporting the classic figure of Barça abroad. As a child, it coincided on the beach of La Concha with Xabi Alonso but pointed to Athletic because he played in the oldko, a club very connected to the Bilbao. His life changed when Joan MartÃnez Vilaseca noticed him and left Barça with 16 years.
“If you play three touches, you are the worst player in the world”
Arteta joined the Masia and soon won the nickname of 'Guardiolet' for her resemblance to PEP. The nickname accompanied him from his stage in the cadet and the youth A, where he appropriated the number '4' applying Cruyff's maximum. “If you play three touches, you are the worst player in the world. If you play two touches, you are slow and if you play a touch, you can aspire to play first.”
Mikel played a touch and, like the best midfielders, had the virtue of lucidity. When the ball passed through his feet the game was clarified. He also shared with Guardiola elegance: it was neither very strong nor very fast but he could have an overwhelming influence on the matches. At that time there was no doubt: his future was the first team. Barça ensured the continuity of the model.
A very young arteta in Barça's preseason / P. Largo
But after two seasons and 46 games in the subsidiary, where he debuted with 16 years, a call from Luis Fernández, the then PSG coach, changed his career. Arteta would never play an official game with Barça, although he did play some friendlies.
The first, with Van Gaal on the bench, on August 6, 1999 against Hertha Berlin. And the other three with Serra Ferrer in the preseason of the year 2000: before the WHC (0-14), AFC Quick 1890 (0-10, scored one of the goals) and Nec Nijmegen (2-5).
Arteta with Van Gaal / P. Largo
Neither of them gave him the alternative in a team that already pointed the transition from Barça de Guardiola to Barça de Xavi. The presence of soccer players like Gerard or Iniesta also contributed to the club not to bet on Arteta. A situation that would force the player to begin an atypical trajectory for the time.
A journey abroad that begins in the PSG of Luis Fernándezwhere it arrives assigned and ends up coinciding with Ronaldinho. His experience in Paris was followed by Glasgow Rangers, Real Sociedad (where he replaces Xabi Alonso), Everton and Arsenal, where a link with the 'gunners' that still lasts.
Arteta made a name in the Premier and now leads the Arsenal project. Before, he accompanied Guardiola in the City, with whom he shares the Masia libretto.
“Looking back, I have to say that my days in the Masia were the most important moments of my career. For the learning process and for the personal experience he had. It was amazing, “he reminded Arsenal magazine in 2016.
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