Source: Team_Talk
Arteta admits England consideration
Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has admitted he was seriously thinking about playing for England before learning it was outlawed by FIFA rules.[LNB] The Spanish playmaker, who has never represented the country of his birth in a full international, was believed to be under consideration for a place in Fabio Capello's Three Lions squad.[LNB]Such a call-up under dual nationality guidelines - which Arteta meets after his time in England with Everton - would have caused huge controversy, but FIFA has a rule which has blocked the possibility in any case.[LNB]The Goodison Park favourite would have had to be eligible for dual nationality when he made his appearances for the Spain Under-21 side, which means the chances of Arteta pulling on the white shirt of England are now gone.[LNB]But the talented midfielder has now revealed that his affinity with his adopted nation meant that he did not dismiss the possibility out of hand. [LNB]Arteta told The Independent: "If it had been any other country I would have said no, but I've been over here for most of my career, so it's my second home.[LNB]"My family are here, my kid's at nursery, I have everything. So I was really thinking seriously about it."[LNB]He added: "It was an issue and now it's not any more, but at least it saves me from having to make a decision.[LNB]"Rules are rules. We knew it wasn't going to be easy so that's it now."
