Arteta jokes Raya can play in Spain 'on the beach with his friends'
David Raya has revealed he would love to test himself in La Liga one day, but Mikel Arteta has made it clear the Spaniard will not be going anywhere for the foreseeable future.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, the goalkeeper was asked whether he had ambitions to play in his homeland having spent his entire professional career in England. Raya did not rule it out.
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“Yes, I would love to. I would love to try out La Liga. For now, I’m very happy here [at Arsenal], but I would certainly like to experience the Spanish league,” Raya said. “I think it’s a very competitive league. Perhaps, in the future, I could play for a Spanish club. I’m Spanish and I’d love to play there, that’s for sure.”
When asked about the comments, Arteta offered a light hearted but firm response. “I think David has to play in Spain at some point, on the beach with his friends in the summer but for the next few years he needs to play here for Arsenal,” the Arsenal boss said.
Raya's rise at Arsenal
Born in Catalonia, Raya moved to Lancashire with Blackburn Rovers on scholarship terms at just 16 years old. After a loan spell with Non-League side Southport, he made 98 appearances for Rovers' first team before joining Brentford in 2019.
His move to Arsenal arrived as an initial loan that was later made permanent for a £27million fee, and he has since gone on to oust Aaron Ramsdale as the club's first choice goalkeeper. Raya is contracted to Arsenal until 2028.
His performances last season played a significant role in Arsenal winning their first Premier League title in 22 years, and he also helped the north London side reach the Champions League final in Budapest.
Yashin Trophy nomination
Raya is expected to attend Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London after being nominated for the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world. He was also part of Spain's World Cup winning squad in North America, though he did not feature on the pitch.
Speaking on the Beyond The Box Podcast, Raya also paid tribute to former Blackburn goalkeeping coach John Keeley for giving him his chance in the professional game. “I don’t know what, but he saw something in me since the first day,” Raya said. “He put a lot of work into me, and he was one of the reasons I went on loan, why I made my debut, why I started the following season as number one. He believed in me and I always have a lot to thank him for.”
For now, Raya's focus remains firmly on Arsenal, with Arteta keen to stress his importance to the side's ambitions this season and beyond.
