Merida denies Atletico deal, but Wenger admits he is “concerned”
The young Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has been linked with Atletico Madrid ever since he first refused the five-year contract offered by Arsene Wenger three months ago, and the rumours were confirmed by the Spanish press the day before yesterday, but the player himself continues to deny that there is any truth in the rumours.
“At the moment I’m in talks with the boss,” he said. “My agent and I are only talking to Arsenal at the moment and nobody else.”
Which seems to be a strange thing to say, when a month ago his agent, Josepa Diaz, said: “We only have an offer from Arsenal but Fran Merida has an illness, for want of a better word, and that is Atletico Madrid and you can’t do anything about that,”
“‘It started in 1996 when Atletico won the league and the Copa del Rey. He slept on red and white sheets, he followed Atletico whenever he had the chance.”
“Even when he was with his family he wore a gold ring with the Atletico badge stuck on it.”
The Spanish papers have now reported that there is a five year contract agreed between Atletico and the young Spaniard. Arsene Wenger has heard all the rumours and has admitted that, after seeing Merida continue playing without signing, that he is getting worried about the outcome of the negotiations.
“We have not progressed there,” he admitted. “I’m concerned, yes.”
It seems to me that Merida is just stringing the fans along as long as possible before announcing the inevitable. Does anyone think I’m wrong?
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This stuff came out a week and a half ago, an you’ve cobbled it together for information we all ready have. Well done.
The quote from Wenger and Merida were from todays news. The quote from his agent was from at least a month ago, which I used to illustrate the futile manner of tonights comments.
I’m sorry if you’re not happy, but it is todays news mate.
Like the rest I`ve no idea what the truth is and to be honest I don`t much care this kind of double talk is par for the course. If Merida is intent on playing a game of cat and mouse it will only bump up Arsenal`s asking price and compensation for his training. Wenger will go along with all this knowing that if his heart is in Spain he`s of no use to Arsenal.
Yep old news, well cobbled together thou, suppose any of us probably could have done that thou?!
Well Merida is a good player but i think he knows something that we all know, he can not play in the first team in the near future and that is the only reasen why he needs time to think what is going to do with his future. When i see our team with the likes such as Cesc, Diaby, Nasry, Rosicky, Ramsey, Wilshire i can not see him taking their place in the team, there is only one player that Merida can take his place and he is Denilson. But as long as the boss preffers Denilson i dont think he will choose Merida instead of him, and for me considering all these i think i will not be angry with him if he leaves us, i just wish him all the best.
Merida has no future in Arsenal, Even Lansbury comes before him in Wenger’s mind.
yes he’s doing an adebyewhore
I assume that Merida is waiting to see if a better offer is available from elsewhere and Wenger will not increase his offer.
If you aren’t commited to the Gunners then go. Look what happened to Flamini and Arsenal hasn’t suffered (well this season anyway)