August 23rd 2024.
Imanol Alguacil, the manager of Real Sociedad, recently shared his farewell message for Mikel Merino, who is set to join Arsenal. In his final conversation with the midfielder, Alguacil revealed that they had a pleasant exchange and that there are no hard feelings between them.
After a long and drawn-out transfer saga, Arsenal finally agreed on a fee with Real Sociedad for Merino, worth up to £32.6million including add-ons. The Spanish international is expected to complete his medical today and sign a four-year deal with the option to extend it until 2029.
Alguacil expressed his happiness as the coach of Real Sociedad, stating that he wants farewells like this for his players. He also mentioned that the club is pleased to bring in their fourth highest transfer fee for a player. He praised Merino's six impressive years at the club and acknowledged him as an example for all the Real players, leaving with the club's best wishes.
The manager also expressed his pride in Merino taking an important step in his career by joining Arsenal. He praised the midfielder's contribution to the club and mentioned that they want signings like him. Alguacil also highlighted Merino's experience and combativeness, as he was the player with the most duels won in all five major European leagues last season, according to Opta.
Merino's journey began at Osasuna, with brief spells at Borussia Dortmund and Newcastle United before joining Real Sociedad in 2018. During his time at the club, he made 242 appearances, scoring 27 goals and providing 30 assists. However, he won't be able to make his debut for Arsenal in their upcoming match against Aston Villa, as he won't be registered in time.
But Merino could make his debut in the following weekend's game against Brighton, depending on manager Mikel Arteta's decision to integrate him slowly into the squad, as he did with the recent signing Riccardo Calafiori. In other transfer news, striker Eddie Nketiah has agreed on personal terms for a move to Nottingham Forest for £30million. Many believe that Arsenal still needs to sign an attacking player before the transfer window closes in a week.
Stay updated with all the latest Arsenal news, exclusives and analysis by signing up for our newsletter. Your privacy is important to us, and this site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
