Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Mikel Arteta would consider taking the Manchester United job if the opportunity arose, despite his current role at Arsenal. The former United defender made the assertion on his podcast, 'Rio Ferdinand Presents', following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim as Manchester United head coach.
Amorim was sacked on Monday after a poor run of results, with his post-match press conference at Leeds proving to be his final act. Darren Fletcher will take charge for the midweek match against Burnley, while the club plans to appoint a caretaker manager until the end of the season before pursuing a permanent boss in the summer.
Ferdinand, when asked if Arteta would turn down United, said: 'Nah, I don’t buy it, I do not buy it. He’s never gonna say it, he would never say it out loud. But I’m telling you, Mikel Arteta would sit there [and consider it].'
Arteta has been at Arsenal for over six years, overseeing a significant turnaround. His side currently top the Premier League, six points clear, and boast players like Declan Rice and William Saliba. Despite not winning a trophy since 2020, Arteta has shown no desire to leave north London.
United are now searching for their second manager in 18 months, with names like Oliver Glasner and Xavi being touted. Amorim leaves with the team three points outside the top four, but performances remain a concern. Ferdinand noted that Amorim's outspoken nature counted against him, saying his recent press conferences seemed 'depressing'.
Arteta got the better of Amorim in the season opener at Old Trafford, but the hosts were competitive. While Arteta is not currently in the conversation for the United job, Ferdinand's comments have sparked speculation about the Arsenal manager's future intentions.
