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Ben AshtonPublished Aug 23, 2024, 2:59pm|Updated Aug 23, 2024, 3:00pm
Real Sociedad’s manager has revealed details of his final conversation with Mikel Merino before the midfielder joins Arsenal.
The Gunners agreed a fee worth up to £32.6million including add ons with the La Liga club yesterday to bring the Spanish international to north London.
Merino is understood to be travelling to the English capital today to complete his medical and sign a four-year deal with the option to extend his contract until 2029.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Merino, who was part of Spain’s Euro 2024 winning team, has been one of the most long-drawn out transfer sagas of the window so far.
But the 28-year-old was finally spotted collecting his belongings and saying goodbye to teammates and staff in Sociedad after six years at the club.
Sociedad boss Imanol Alguacil insisted there are no hard feelings between him and Merino and wished him all the best after securing his switch to the Premier League.
‘I told him thank you. I am happy because as Real coach I want farewells like this,’ Alguacil said, according to local news outlet El Diario Vasco.
Alguacil praised Merino’s contribution to Real Sociedad and referenced how pleased the club is to bring in its fourth highest ever transfer fee for a player.
He added: ‘A boy who came at 22, still without making his mark, and has given us six impressive years.
‘An example for all the Real players, who leaves money and feels Real.
‘We want signings like this. Also, I am proud that Merino is taking this important step of going to Arsenal.’
Merino brings with him a wealth of experience and combativeness, having won more duels (326) than any other player across the big five European leagues last season, according to Opta.
After coming through the ranks at Osasuna, Merino had brief spells at Borussia Dortmund and also in the Premier League with Newcastle United in 2017-18.
Real Sociedad signed Merino in the summer of 2018, where he went on to make 242 appearances in all competitions, scoring 27 goals and providing 30 assists.
He won’t be registered in time to make the squad for Arsenal’s trip to Aston Villa on Saturday evening.
But Merino could be in contention for the clash with Brighton at Emirates Stadium the following weekend, depending on whether Mikel Arteta chooses to integrate him slowly as he’s done with fellow new signing Riccardo Calafiori.
Elsewhere in the market for Arsenal, striker Eddie Nketiah has agreed personal terms ahead of a £30million move to Nottingham Forest, while many believe Arteta still needs to sign an attacking player before the transfer window closes in a week.
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