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Arteta wants Arsenal stay, insists agent

ESPN staff
July 10, 2014
Arsenal's transfer policy worrying?

Mikel Arteta's agent claims the midfielder wants to stay at Arsenal despite reported interest from Fiorentina.

Arsenal were holding out for a £6 million fee for the Spaniard, according to The Times, with Fiorentina looking to pay around £3.2m for him.

But Arteta is entering the final year of his contract at the Emirates and his agent Inaki Ibanez has indicated the club's vice-captain wants to see out his deal, at the end of which he would become a free agent.

"I have never spoken with Fiorentina," Ibanez told Italian radio station Radio Blu Toscana.

Arteta wore the leader's armband last season as the club's official captain Thomas Vermaelen struggled to get into the first team.

"Mikel has one year more on his contract and he has no desire to go away from Arsenal," Ibanez added. "He's fine there and he's also the team's captain. I have not spoken with any club.

"If he'd like to come to Fiorentina? No, we're talking about Arsenal's captain, with all due respect to Fiorentina, he is fine there and he does not want to leave."

Arteta, Arsenal's current vice-captain, has made nearly 100 league appearances since joining the club on the final day of the transfer window in 2011.

Arsene Wenger has been getting his transfer business done early this summer with Arsenal close to a £50 million trio of signings - Alexis Sanchez, Mathieu Debuchy and Loic Remy all on the brink of joining the club.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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