Fabio Capello insists Mikel Arteta should switch citizenship before he considers him for England.
England boss won't be drawn on whether he'd pick Arteta
Fabio Capello insists it is up to Mikel Arteta to gain British citizenship before he considers whether he will pick him for England.
Arteta has represented Spain at Under-21 level but the presence of midfield talents such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and David Silva have prevented him getting a call-up to the senior squad.
The 28-year-old Everton star is now eligible to switch allegiance under residency grounds having played in England for five years and has reportedly met with England boss Capello.
Arteta is not thought to have applied for British citizenship yet and Everton boss David Moyes has said it is up to England to confirm they will select him before he starts the process, which can take up to nine months.
But Capello disagrees, and claims he will not confirm if he will select Arteta until he is eligible.
"I like to speak about the players that I can select," he said.
"When I can select (him) I can speak about him. I can't select (him) because he is not English.
"I prefer to speak about the players I can select."
No talks on policy
The Football Association are yet to have talks with Capello about Arteta, whose case could set a precedent.
With so many foreign players now moving to England to play in the Premier League then Arteta could blaze a trail for a host more overseas-born players to pull on the Three Lions.
"We have not discussed the matter as a policy as we have not been in a position where the manager wants to select a 'dual passport player'," an FA spokesman confirmed.
Such a move would be loaded with controversy given a gentleman's agreement is said to be in place amongst the Home Nations specifying that to qualify for an international call-up a player must either have been born in the country, have a parent or grandparent born in the country or have spent five years in education in the country before the age of 18.
With the current Spain squad having won both the European Championships and the World Cup in the last two years, Arteta is unlikely to get a look-in with the country of his birth over the next few years.
