Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has looked back on his playing days at Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy with a mixture of admiration and amusement, but his latest revelation has raised eyebrows in Nigeria, Footynaija.com reports.
Arteta, who spent his youth career at Barcelona before making his mark in the top flight with clubs such as Rangers, Everton and Arsenal, has often spoken fondly of his time in Catalonia.
In that period he shared a dressing room with Babangida, the younger brother of Tijani Babangida, a 1998 World Cup star for Nigeria. Both were tipped for bright futures, and both left memorable impressions on their teammates.
In a video posted on X, the Arsenal boss was asked about teammates from his formative years. The answers quickly turned playful, with Arteta recalling fashion choices and personalities from his time in Spain.
According to the Arsenal manager, Babangida stood out in La Masia but not for his wardrobe.
“The worst one, Haruna Babangida, the Nigerian player that I shared,” Arteta said, drawing laughter.
Arteta has previously praised the Kaduna-born forward’s extraordinary ability, once noting that at just 15 years old, Babangida looked like “the best player in the world.”
Babangida went on to play for Barcelona B and across Europe, eventually making one senior appearance for Nigeria in a 2003 friendly against Japan before retiring in 2015.
The Arsenal boss also weighed in on a more serious footballing question in the same interview, naming two of the most dazzling players he has ever encountered. He placed Nigerian icon Jay-Jay Okocha and Brazilian legend Ronaldinho on the same pedestal, admitting it was “very difficult” to separate their skill levels.
Babangida, now 42, has kept a low profile since retirement, especially after the Babangida family suffered tragedy with the loss of Ibrahim Babangida in a car accident in 2024.
