Brazil manager Tite has apologised for the reports linking him to Arsenal and insisted there’s nothing in them.

Brazil's coach Tite gestures during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Brazil and Chile at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 24, 2022. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)
Brazil’s coach Tite gestures during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Brazil and Chile at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on March 24, 2022. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)

Brazilian journalist Eric Faria recently claimed negotiations were underway for Brazil manager Tite to join Arsenal.

Globo Esporte reported that Edu Gaspar was leading the pursuit of the Brazil boss, with the intention of bringing him in after the World Cup. But the manager himself has denied the reports.

“Sorry, Arsenal, sorry, Arteta, this is not true,” Tite said. “It didn’t come from us. There’s absolutely nothing.

“I am sad because information is broadcasted to the public and it is a lie. The information is a lie.

“The people that I represent, that feel identified with me, rest assured that Tite has a personal moral conduct and values his professional conduct.”

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north-west of London on March 6, 2022. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds at the end of the English Premier League football match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road Stadium in Watford, north-west of London on March 6, 2022. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Globo Esporte had written that talks were underway between Edu and Tite’s camp, and that Tite would be joining from the 2023/24 season if negotiations went well.

But even before Tite’s denial, the claims didn’t make much sense.

Perhaps a rumour like this might have seemed appropriate in the early stages of last season, with the Gunners firmly in the bottom half of the table. But with Arsenal in the top four, the timing always seemed odd.

For now, there’s no indication Arsenal need to scramble to appoint someone for the summer of 2023. It looks like Arteta will still be in the job, with extension talks planned for the summer.