Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has dismissed rumours linking him with a potential move to Real Madrid.
Reports from Spain earlier this week claim Los Blancos are keeping tabs on the Gunners boss.
Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is under growing pressure after a recent stuttering form in La Liga.
His side are seven points behind league leaders Barcelona after 24 games.
Madrid also risk missing out on the Copa del Rey after losing 1-0 to Barca in the first leg of the semi-final tie.
Ancelotti’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu club ends in 2024, but he could be shown the way out this summer.
Arteta has boosted his curriculum vitae at Arsenal after guiding them to the zenith of the Premier League.
The north London club are five points clear at the top of the league table after 26 games.
Madrid could look to bring Arteta to La Liga next season, but he is not keen.
“I’m fully focused on what I’m doing here at Arsenal”, the 40-year-old said in reaction to the Madrid links.
“I’m extremely happy, proud and grateful to be in this football club.”
He signed a deal until 2023 when he was appointed as Arsenal’s manager in December 2019.
Arteta won the FA Cup and the FA Community Shield a few months later.
He extended his contract to the end of the 2024-25 season last May and could soon sign another extension.
Winning Arsenal’s first title since 2004 will be a massive achievement.
He has not had a lot of cash to spend but has performed brilliantly well.
Arsenal must support him in the transfer market if they want to keep challenging for major silverware.
The Gunners have never won the Champions League and Arteta could be the one to break the jinx if empowered.
Madrid may fail to convince the Spaniard to return home in the summer.
However, they and other top clubs across Europe will continue to monitor him.
