Ross420
Sep 11 2003, 07:52 AM
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39317000/jpg/_39317350_artetajoy203.jpg
Despite enjoying a wonderful start to the season with Rangers, midfielder Mikel Arteta is still dreaming of a return to his native Spain.
The 21-year-old, who joined Rangers at the beginning of last season from Barcelona after a loan spell at Paris St Germain, appeared close to a transfer to Atletico Madrid during the summer.
But the move fell through with Rangers unable to recoup the £6m fee they splashed out for Arteta.
However, the Spaniard has put the disappointment of the deal's collapse behind in him in style with a string of impressive displays.
Arteta has already surpassed his goals tally from last season and leads the Scottish goalscoring charts with six strikes from six appearances.
With Rangers selling Barry Ferguson to Blackburn Rovers, Arteta looks to be relishing his increased responsibility with the Scottish champions but that has not altered his aspirations.
"My dream is to return to Spain. I would love to return, but not just anywhere," Arteta said.
"I have two more years here (at Rangers) and if I do go back it would have to be to a club that excites me."
Arteta, currently with the Spain Under-21 squad in Murcia, admitted that the pull of his homeland gets harder to resist with each visit.
"Every time I come here, it gets harder to leave and makes me want to stay," he continued.
"I talk to my companions about the Primera Liga and it makes me feel envious."
There was a dispute between the player and Rangers over the Atletico bid with each party denying they had initiated the possible switch and Arteta still maintains he did not try to force away from Ibrox.
"It's not as if I didn't want to continue at Rangers," he added.
"I spoke to the club because some offers had come in and I said that if anything mutually beneficial came out then I'd be willing to go.
"I've been away (from Spain) for a long time and I want to enjoy the football they play here although maybe it was too early for me to go to Atletico."
Despite enjoying a wonderful start to the season with Rangers, midfielder Mikel Arteta is still dreaming of a return to his native Spain.
The 21-year-old, who joined Rangers at the beginning of last season from Barcelona after a loan spell at Paris St Germain, appeared close to a transfer to Atletico Madrid during the summer.
But the move fell through with Rangers unable to recoup the £6m fee they splashed out for Arteta.
However, the Spaniard has put the disappointment of the deal's collapse behind in him in style with a string of impressive displays.
Arteta has already surpassed his goals tally from last season and leads the Scottish goalscoring charts with six strikes from six appearances.
With Rangers selling Barry Ferguson to Blackburn Rovers, Arteta looks to be relishing his increased responsibility with the Scottish champions but that has not altered his aspirations.
"My dream is to return to Spain. I would love to return, but not just anywhere," Arteta said.
"I have two more years here (at Rangers) and if I do go back it would have to be to a club that excites me."
Arteta, currently with the Spain Under-21 squad in Murcia, admitted that the pull of his homeland gets harder to resist with each visit.
"Every time I come here, it gets harder to leave and makes me want to stay," he continued.
"I talk to my companions about the Primera Liga and it makes me feel envious."
There was a dispute between the player and Rangers over the Atletico bid with each party denying they had initiated the possible switch and Arteta still maintains he did not try to force away from Ibrox.
"It's not as if I didn't want to continue at Rangers," he added.
"I spoke to the club because some offers had come in and I said that if anything mutually beneficial came out then I'd be willing to go.
"I've been away (from Spain) for a long time and I want to enjoy the football they play here although maybe it was too early for me to go to Atletico."