Arsenal boss Wenger plays down Barcelona talk

The Frenchman has been touted as a possible successor to Luis Enrique at Camp Nou, but he maintains that his focus is locked on the Gunners

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has sought to distance himself from reports suggesting that he could be a contender to succeed Luis Enrique at Barcelona.
A managerial vacancy at Camp Nou is set to open up this summer, with Enrique announcing on Wednesday that he is to stand down.
His future had been the subject of intense speculation for some time, in much the same way as Wenger’s has been at Emirates Stadium.
The Frenchman is set to see his current contract expire at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, with no extension agreed as yet.

A failure to push Arsenal back into title contention, while enduring a 5-1 humbling away at Bayern Munich in the first leg of a last-16 Champions League encounter, has sparked talk of an imminent exit.
Wenger, though, has always maintained that his preference is to carry on in north London, and he is not about to let links to Barca see him waver in that stance.

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He told a press conference on Thursday when pressed on the latest rumours: “No my preference [staying at Arsenal] is always the same, it will remain the same.
“I am not looking for jobs at other clubs or jobs of other people. I am just focusing on getting to the next level and try to improve.
“Competent managers always try to get better, to reinvent themselves.”
Wenger also brushed off questions regarding his reported snubbing of a £30 million offer from China.
He added: “This press conference is about the Liverpool game. Not about my future or what I turned down or did not turn down.”

The quizzing regarding his future did not end there, though, with Wenger having to fend off further suggestions that his time at Arsenal may be coming to a close.
He remains adamant that any departure from the club will be driven by a decision from the board, with his commitment to the post highlighted by his longevity and willingness to reject the advances of others in the past.

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Wenger added: “I’ve been here 20 years and many times had opportunity to leave.
“I don’t have to convince you my preference has always been Arsenal, but I am objective enough to make the right decision for myself and the club itself.
“The club can also make their decision if it wants and I will respect that.”