Is Fran Merida ready to "do a Flamini" and leave Arsenal?
Merida - Refused new contract
The young Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has been steadily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid next summer, and it is looking more and more likely that he is considering a move away next summer.
Merida is often lauded as being the “new Fabregas” and after a starring performance for Spain in the U20 World Cup recently, he is hotly tipped to be a full Spanish International. So why has Wenger, and the Arsenal management, left it so late to offer him a new contract?
Just like Mathieu Flamini, who left the summer before last after just realising his potential, it looks like Merida is considering doing exactly the same thing. Far from the Fabregas style of denying any possibility of him leaving Arsenal, Merida has actually said he is “content” that Atletico are interested in signing him.
“This is news to make me content,” Merida said, “but I have a deal signed with Arsenal until June 2010 and I still have not decided my future.
“I have not accepted the offer from Arsenal for five more seasons but this does not change things. I want to study the situation calmly and decide what is best.
Just the fact that he has turned down Arsenal’s offer is enough to set the alarm bells ringing, as it is now certain he will not be short of offers in January, when he can officially talk to other clubs.
And you can also be sure that Atletico Madrid will not be the only suitors. There will have been representatives from all the top clubs in Europe at the U20 World Cup.
Be worried, be very, very worried……
Full injury list update Oct 15th – Clichy and Diaby out
Arsenal rumours Oct 15th – Eboue, Arshavin and Merida – but NOT Chamakh!
Is Fran Merida going to “do a Flamini”?
Ray Parlour – Alex Song is key to Arsenal’s success
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i think theres a 99.9% chance he is going to leave, u know wenger isnt one to beg a player to stay wen he doesnt want to..
they will offer him a contract he refuses then thats the end he is off without any fight from arsenal… then he will sit on the bench at athletico n ponder why he didnt stay at arsenal! … ask flamini…
“Do a Flamini”? I don’t think Flamini has caught on like wildfire at AC. Fran should think twice about leaving before completing his education. AW & associates see Fran everyday. So they should know where he’s ranked – behind Ramsey and Wilshere.
For the fact that u mentioned Flamini here, he can go. I don’t think he has asserted himself in Arsenal as much as he has in Spain so he should’t expect an automatric shirt just because he’s being tipped as d next Fab, we’ll miss him though but we can’t beg…we don’t beg d big starts like Viera not to talk of a rif raf like him. Hate it wn all dz lil boys start making noise
I will be a bit sad to see him go, because I have this vision of a Ramsey, Wilshere, Merida, (and if he develops even more) Song midfield being the core of our squad in the future. This is, of course, in anticipation of the day when Cesc finally does leave and Arshavin moves on.
I think if Song develops the steal, the others are/can be a world-class offensive force.
Perhaps a negative side-effect of Arsene’s ‘youth policy’ is that now 20 year olds want/expect playing time and don’t want to wait their turn till they start to fully mature at 22-26.
I think merida will turn out great whereever he goes. It’s up to him ultimately, but I hope he stays.
He reminds me a bit of riquelme, and it would be great if he could take over from cesc when he leaves. It must be frustrating for him atm though.
The same for carlos vela. He plays extremely well whenever he gets the chance but still gets very few opportunities in the league.
With flamini it was different. He’d actually made his name, merida is still a youngster really.
@eze – when he’s Lucky he’s sitting on the bench at arsenal!