Mikel Merino's father explains the condition for his departure

The father of Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino has explained the condition under which his son would leave the club.

Since joining Arsenal in the summer of 2024, Merino has won over the fans by playing as a temporary striker during injury crises and scoring important goals. However, head coach Mikel Arteta has not been able to make him a first choice in midfield.

Former professional footballer Angel Miguel described the conditions for his son's return to La Liga last month. His father said that his son wants to keep competing in the Champions League and maintain his motivation.

In the Spanish national team, head coach Luis de la Fuente has used Merino as a substitute. The player played only 193 minutes at the World Cup. According to Sport Witness, this situation has increased the player's desire to play regularly for both his club and his country.

According to a report by La Razon, Atletico Madrid want to sign Merino on a loan with an option to buy. This season, the player has started only once in the Premier League. However, he started in three of the four Champions League matches, and Arteta used him in the number 10 role as an alternative to Martin Odegaard.