Why Arsenal star turned down Real Madrid in £32m summer transfer

Merino signed for the Gunners from Real Sociedad in August 2024 in a deal that had the potential to rise to £31.6million. The Spaniard had previous experience in England, having spent a year at Newcastle United on an initial loan from Borussia Dortmund, before the Magpies were obligated to sign him permanently. Now 30, after a period in San Sebastian, Merino has become a key member of Mikel Arteta’s squad at the Emirates Stadium, where he has a Premier League winners’ medal to show for his contributions. To date, he has played 85 games for the north Londoners, scoring 16 goals. In demand: Mikel MerinoAFP/GettyHe had previously been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu before Arsenal swooped in, and Merino’s father, Miguel, explained why the decision was taken to send his son back to England. “Well, look, it’s not just about Real Madrid,” he told Goles con Parrado.“I think he’s a player who’s at Arsenal and has won the Premier League, has reached the Champions League final, he got to the semi-finals last year. He’s part of a world class squad, so he’s a world class player.”“Yes, well, but they opted for a different type of player for that position. So, it’s a perfectly respectable decision, isn’t it? The technical staff or the managers at Real Madrid sometimes go for one profile or another.”Spanish journalist Tomas Roncero had lamented Merino’s lack of starting minutes in an Arsenal shirt, and pleaded the Premier League outfit to send both him and Martin Zubimendi on loan to Jose Mourinho’s Madrid in the upcoming January transfer window. Wanted: Martin ZubimendiGetty“Right now, he’s at a club that’s competing for everything. That’s what he wanted when he left Real Sociedad,” Merino Snr. added.“Mikel left with a heavy heart. He wanted to take a step up in his ambitions as a footballer, to be a regular in the Champions League and try to win the Premier League, which he’s already achieved. He left Sociedad because he wanted to advance his career as a footballer, and now he’s at a top club.“If he comes to La Liga, well, I suppose he’ll want to continue in that rhythm of competing in the Champions League and keeping that motivation, but obviously he’s in a comfortable situation there at Arsenal, isn’t he? Because he’s experiencing exactly what he wanted when he left Sociedad.”Read MoreThis season, Merino has featured in more of a bit-part role, and he has not started a single game for the Premier League champions in the top flight. He did, however, get the nod from the off in the Champions League and League Cup wins over Napoli and Ipswich respectively.