Mikel Merino’s father on Arsenal status and potential Real Madrid transfer

Arsenal star Mikel Merino’s father has talked up Real Madrid’s interest and opened the door to return to La Liga in the future. 

The Spain international first left his country to join Borussia Dortmund in 2016. Newcastle United signed him a year later, only to sell him to Real Sociedad in 2018.

Merino’s performances for La Real convinced Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, who signed him in 2024.

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Toni Kroos finished his 10-year spell at Real Madrid. He formed a trident with Casemiro and Luka Modrić in the Spanish capital. Casemiro swapped Los Blancos for Manchester United in 2022, while Modrić left as a free agent in 2025.

Why Arsenal over Real Madrid 

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The World Cup winner’s father, Miguel Merino, was a guest on Goles con Parrado to discuss a few topics about his son.

When asked why Real Madrid didn’t sign Mikel and why he ended up at the Emirates, he said: “Well, look, it’s not just about Real Madrid. 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.”

On Thursday, AS journalist Tomás Roncero expressed his frustration over Mikel Merino and Martín Zubimendi’s limited role at the Emirates. He even asked Arsenal to send the duo on loan to Real Madrid in January.

Goles con Parrado’s host put it to Merino Sr. that since Toni Kross and Luka Modrić left, Los Blancos have been lacking a quality midfielder. He also said Real Madrid had his son and Zubimendi on their agenda and asks why they didn’t sign either.

Responding to that, Miguel explained: “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.”

Leaves door open for La Liga return

Mikel Merino’s contract with the Gunners runs until 2028. The hosts asked his father whether he could return to Spain and join a club, for example, like Atlético Madrid.

“Well, right now, he’s at a club that’s competing for everything. That’s what he wanted when he left Real Sociedad,” he 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 Real 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 Real Sociedad.”