The summer Mikel Merino chose Arsenal over Atlético because of "their style of football" and Arteta's call: "Just like I called him, other managers would call him."

When Peter Mujuzi , the Emirates pitchman , recites the Arsenal and Atlético Madrid lineups tonight, Mikel Merino 's name will ring out loud as one of the stars of this British team with Hispanic influences. Things might have been different if, in the summer of 2024, the then Real Sociedad midfielder had decided to join his teammate Robin Le Normand in his move to the Metropolitano. It wasn't a question of money, timing, or coaches: it was football, plain and simple.

That season left a bittersweet taste in the mouths of the Metropolitano. They lost to Dortmund in the Champions League quarterfinals and to Athletic Club in the Copa del Rey semifinals. Third place in the league, a must according to the club's top brass, went to Girona. Thus began a busy summer in the offices to renew a competitive but aging squad. The eleven the red-and-whites fielded against the Germans was the oldest in the club's history, with an average age of over 31.

Andrea Berta , then the club's sporting director, set his sights on two targets from Real Sociedad, a team that had been in Europe for years and was very competitive in La Liga. Le Normand and Merino entered the Atlético orbit. The former before the end of the season and the latter at the beginning of the summer. There was even an attempt to bring both in as a sort of package . The price tag for both was 70 million, but in the end, only the Spanish-French center-back ended up arriving for 34.5 million.

"It was a unique opportunity"

And before leaving for Germany to play in the European Championship, Arsenal and FC Barcelona had also shown interest in the blue-and-white midfielder. Spain was making inquiries, and Merino, who had already rejected a renewal with Real Madrid and had one year left on his contract, was constantly being asked about his future. "It was a very busy summer," the Navarrese player told EL MUNDO. The tournament would end up being won by the national team, with him playing a major role.

Merino already had a preference in mind, although he welcomed the interest from such important clubs. Arsenal, given their playing style, were the chosen one, but the Gunners , entangled in the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori , weren't quite ready to face the deal as the summer progressed. "It was a unique opportunity, an away experience in the Premier League, and coming back here was something I always wanted. It was also playing for one of the best managers in the world," Merino said.

And it was precisely Mikel Arteta , with a phone call, who guaranteed his signing, reassured the midfielder, and allowed him to enjoy his vacation with his future on track. "We tried to convey to him the role he would have in the project and explain what we wanted from him. So we were happy. Just like I called him, other coaches would call him," the manager commented.

On August 27, his move to Arsenal was made official for €33.5 million plus €5 million in variables. Those close to him were clear about the Navarrese native's destination given his footballing style. "He never hesitated; he chose his teams based on the style that suited his characteristics, but he also wanted to shake off the bad taste he had in the Premier League after his experience at Newcastle, where he couldn't perform as well as he wanted," said those close to him.

They also maintain that he was never "afraid" of joining a British club with great midfield stylists like Martin Odegaard or Declan Rice , who had arrived the year before for 120 million euros. And that his real risk came when he left a newly promoted Osasuna to go to Borussia Dortmund in 2016, where Thomas Tuchel , current England coach, barely used him and when he did it was as a center back. He played a little more in the loan to Newcastle the following season under Rafa Benítez , but he never became an undisputed starter and hence his bad taste in his mouth.

Duality on the benches

Choosing Arsenal wasn't a managerial dichotomy: Mikel Arteta versus Diego Simeone , as the Navarrese native had already played under other renowned coaches. Rather, the player wanted a team that was more offensive than defensive. Thus, he went from being a token defender in yellow and a top midfielder in blue and white to a temporary center forward for the British team, taking advantage of Arsenal's severe injury plague in attack last season. "That gives an idea of ​​the player's versatility," explain those close to him.

Meanwhile, the Spaniard is happy in London, "like a true Northerner," dedicated 100% to the sport. "He lives for and by football," say those who know him, despite the fact that this season hasn't been as undisputed as last season. Nor is the other player who made the opposite move from the British capital. Conor Gallagher joined Atlético from Chelsea for €40 million after Merino's rejection, and his performance has been inconsistent since his arrival at the Metropolitano, never establishing himself in Simeone's starting lineup. On top of that, the arrivals of Cardoso, Nico , and Almada further complicate his presence in the starting lineup.