Arteta turns eye back to Spain

Creative midfielder keeps Spain dream alive

Last updated: 10th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Arteta turns eye back to Spain

Arteta: Wants Spain call

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Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta still harbours hope that he will one day play for his native Spain.

The 28-year-old has recently been at the centre of speculation regarding his international future, after being linked with a possible call-up to the England squad.

However, any prospects of featuring for the Three Lions seem to be over as a Fifa ruling states that any player who has represented their country in an official competition, at whatever level, would at that time need to have held a passport for the country they later wish to play for in order to be permitted to make the switch.

Arteta represented Spain at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-21 level, so he has now turned his head back towards his homeland.

He told Gol Television: "For me it would be amazing news to be part of the Spanish national team...it would be enormously exciting.

"I've always loved it and even more so with the group of players that are in the national team right now, for me it would be a huge reward."

He added: "I always have the telephone open for (Spain coach) Vicente del Bosque."

Basque-born Arteta had spoken positively of the idea of playing for England, but the former Real Sociedad and Rangers man now hopes to one day earn a Spain call-up.

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