A decision on Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino’s future will not be made until after Euro 2024, confirms his father Angel Merino.
A decision on the future of Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino will not be made until this summer’s European Championship has concluded, according to the 28-year-old’s father Angel Merino.
The midfielder scored a last-gasp winner for Spain on Friday evening to send La Roja into the semi-finals of Euro 2024 at Germany’s expense.
There is currently a host of speculation surrounding Merino’s future, with Barcelona believed to be keen to secure his services during this summer’s transfer window.
Merino’s current deal with Real Sociedad is due to expire next summer, and new Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick is thought to view him as the ideal player to boost the midfield for the 2024-25 campaign.
However, a decision on the Spaniard’s future will not arrive until Euro 2024 has finished, with La Roja currently preparing to tackle France in next week’s first semi-final.
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Barcelona are thought to be keen on Merino
“Mikel has already said actively and passively that until Spain finishes its participation at Euro 2024, he is not going to talk about anything else,” Angel Merino, who played professionally between 1986 and 2003, told El Chiringuito.
“He is only going to talk about the European Championship, and then he will talk to his agent and his club and whoever he has to talk to solve what he has to solve.”
Merino was in strong form for Real Sociedad during the 2023-24 campaign, scoring eight goals and registering five assists in 45 appearances in all competitions.
Meanwhile, he has represented his Basque side on 242 occasions since arriving from Newcastle United in July 2018, scoring 27 goals and registering 30 assists.
Manchester United and Manchester City are also believed to be keen on Merino, who is seen as a low-cost midfield option during the summer market.
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Merino was Spain’s hero against Germany
“Everything happened in one millisecond. As soon as I saw that Dani [Olmo] had the ball, I knew he had a lot of quality and that he would put an amazing cross in,” Merino told UEFA’s official website on Friday night.
“I put my faith in him, I made the run in behind [Antonio] Rudiger and the ball was literally perfect. I only had to make the run, jump and direct the header. The rest is history!
“I have to be honest, for the first two seconds I wasn’t aware what was happening. I heard nothing… complete silence. Then I realised it was a goal when I saw all my team-mates running towards me. It was utterly amazing.
“It was me who scored the goal but this was just proof of the family we are. It was the whole team which was responsible for it – the effort we put in on the training field, the gym. The moments nobody else can see.
“The important thing is the mentality. We are so close to achieving something important and the only thing we have to be is professional. Rest, sleep, eat well and use the motivation we have in our minds. It’ll be easy to be 100% ready for the next match.”
Spain will be missing three starters for their semi-final against France, with Pedri unavailable through injury, while Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand will both be suspended.