According to Estadio Deportivo, Mikel Merino has told friends and family that he wants to leave Newcastle United this summer in order to secure a return to Spain.
The story states that he’s planned ‘talks’ with Rafa Benitez to enable his exit after ‘confessing to his inner circle’ that he wants to leave the club this summer.
With there being a new story every day on Merino’s situation, we’ll take these claims from Spain with a pinch of salt for now – however there’s often no smoke without fire.
I think this applies here. A recent interview of his suggested as though he was up for the challenge at NUFC and ready to fight for his place next season, but the constant talks of him returning to his homeland makes you wonder if he really is unsettled.
Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis and Real Sociedad have all been heavily linked in recent weeks and those rumours have been coupled with claims we’ve been trying to sign Lille’s Thiago Maia – a midfielder in a very similar mould to Merino (suggesting we’re preparing for his exit).
It would be a real shame to see him leave so soon after showing such promise just last year – although there’s no point keeping a player who doesn’t want to be here.
If his head and heart is not upto fighting for his place in our team then sell him ,any decent striker at the interested clubs we could do a deal for ?
Life is Black and White(Quote)
I’d guess he wants to go – having got off to such a good start then spent the rest of the season on the bench.
We just played him to activate the buy clause in his contract.
Bought him for six and a half, paid him a million We’ll move him on for 12.
Not a bad return – 60% in a year.
Not sure about the rampant use of the word “star” though.
Rob Brown(Quote)