'That's that' - Real Sociedad boss issues final goodbye to Mikel Merino ahead of £30m Arsenal transfer
Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil has said one final goodbye to Mikel Merino ahead of his Arsenal transfer.
Real Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil has said his goodbye to Arsenal-bound Mikel Merino, making it clear he would not be answering any further questions on the midfielder after thanking him for his service to the club.
Arsenal are preparing to announce a deal worth just over £30million including add-ons for Merino, with the Euro 2024 winner set to return to England to join the Gunners’ Premier League title bid. Mikel Arteta has been keen to add a more footballing option next to Declan Rice having been frustrated by Thomas Partey’s struggles in possession.
Merino will fill that void, and he does so after playing a significant role in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign in which he scored the winner in the quarter-finals against Germany. The 28-year-old has become one of the best midfielders in La Liga over recent years, helping Real Sociedad to a Champions League campaign of last and Europa League qualification ahead of this season.
The Spaniard is said to have completed his medical with only the final signatures remaining ahead of the deal being announced by Arsenal, likely at some point on Sunday or Monday.
In the meantime, Real Sociedad have secured their first win of the season with another shaky display, edging Espanyol having lost to Rayo Vallecano last week. La Real boss Alguacil admitted after the game that he was relieved that the win “buys time” with his team “not physically well” at the moment following a number of players returning late from Euro 2024, while they have also had injuries this summer.
On Merino, Alguacil issued one final farewell before making it clear he will be focusing on the players he has from here on out. He said after the game, as cited by Mundo Deportivo: “I have thanked him. I am happy because as a coach of La Real, I want goodbyes like this. He came at 22 years of age and has put in six incredible years, he has passed up money and he feels La Real. I want signings like this. That’s that. The last question about Merino.”