August 27th 2024.
Mikel Merino, the Spanish footballer, recently completed his move from Real Sociedad to Arsenal. This transfer was highly anticipated and finally confirmed on Tuesday, after Arsenal agreed to a deal worth £31m with La Liga club Sociedad. Merino, who had a disappointing spell with Newcastle United in the Premier League, is now looking forward to a fresh start with his new team.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who made over 200 appearances for Real Sociedad, was one of the key players in Spain's Euro 2024 win over the summer. He featured in all seven of Spain's matches and even scored a late winner in the quarter-final against Germany. Merino's impressive performance caught the attention of Arsenal and he was linked with the club during the Euros.
Merino has now revealed that one of his new Arsenal teammates, David Raya, had been pestering him for weeks about joining the club. Raya and Merino were both part of the Spanish national team that won the Euros, and Raya was eager to know if Merino was indeed joining him in north London. Speaking to Arsenal's official website, Merino said, "Obviously when the rumors started, he [Raya] was always asking me, 'What's going on? Am I going to see you next year with us?!' We have a good relationship and obviously won the Euros together, so I'm extremely happy to have him here. I think he will be a big help for me to adapt to this new life. He is an amazing teammate."
Merino also revealed that he had spoken with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard before joining the club. The two were briefly teammates at Real Sociedad when Odegaard was on loan from Real Madrid. "We exchanged some messages a few days ago," Merino said. "He told me he was really happy for me to take this next step in my life. It was amazing sharing the pitch with him back in the day. I have a lot of good memories of our connection and hopefully we can have an even better connection here."
Now that he is an Arsenal player, Merino is determined to achieve "big things" at the club. Despite the Gunners' back-to-back second-place finishes in the Premier League, Merino believes that the club has the same mentality as him – to grow, win, and fulfill their dreams. "I wouldn't move to a club that is not aligned with my desires," Merino said. "What I want is to grow, to win, to fulfill my dreams and I think this club has the same mentality."
The Spanish midfielder, who will wear the No. 23 shirt at Arsenal, is impressed with the club's facilities, staff, and the way they work. He has spoken with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who has shared with him the club's work ethic. "I love that way of working as well," Merino said. "So I think it's the perfect match, now it's time to get to work, the part I love doing, and hopefully everything goes well."
Merino is excited to join an "amazing team" and is determined to help them achieve their goals. He believes that Arsenal has the perfect mix of players, facilities, and staff, and is looking forward to doing "big things" together this season. Merino is set to make his Arsenal debut on Saturday when Brighton visits the Emirates Stadium. He is eager to start playing and contribute to the team's success.
In conclusion, Mikel Merino has completed his move to Arsenal and is excited to start a new chapter in his career. He is looking forward to playing with his new teammates, especially his former national team teammate David Raya. Merino is determined to help Arsenal achieve their goals and is impressed with the club's facilities and work ethic. He is ready to make his debut and contribute to the team's success.
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