Mikel Merino, talisman and model son-in-law Spain hope to lean on again | OneFootball

Mikel Merino keeps collecting honours for club and country, a talisman Spain hope to lean on again. According to AS, he has won cups in Germany and with Real Sociedad, a recent Premier League title, U19 and U21 Euros, Olympic silver, the Nations League and the European Championship, starring in Stuttgart.

Abroad at Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle and Arsenal, he even endured the 2016 attack on Dortmund’s team bus, accompanying the injured Marc Bartra to hospital.

Raised at Osasuna after leaving CD Amigó, he debuted on 23 August 2014 against Barcelona B under Jan Urban. Dortmund signed him in 2016, Newcastle followed, then Real Sociedad confirmed his arrival on 12 July 2018.

Despite a long foot lay-off, Luis de la Fuente kept faith, naming him in the decisive squad. Merino played in the opener against Cabo Verde, and after facing Saudi Arabia the coach hinted he would again be important at this World Cup.

Friends describe an old-school character, respectful and calm, Roberto Torres even calls him the perfect son-in-law. He still honours his father Miguel, a former Osasuna player and his youth coach, with the trademark loop around the corner flag.

Away from football he dotes on Marco, his first child with model Lola Liberal, and at 30 he prefers to talk about a second star and dreaming about 2030 on home soil.

Source: AS