THE SPANISH city of Pamplona is famous for its Running of the Bulls festival.
Every summer, daredevil locals volunteer to lead the bulls – often 10 or more – down narrow streets at high speed in an event that attracts hundreds of tourists from around the world.
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A regular face in the crowds is Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, 28 – a local Pamplona lad from the province of Navarre and an admirer of the power and unpredictability on show.
There was a time during his upbringing at the famed Osasuna academy where Merino was viewed in a similar light: a midfield talent with an impressive physique – now standing at 6 foot 2 inches – but one who lacked control.
Former Osasuna coach Jose Manuel Mateo told SunSport: “There was a period in which he was physically a very powerful player but was still not developed enough to move his body.
“It was a bit difficult for him. He was very strong, really advanced for his age, something special that was above the others, but missing something muscularly.
“But by the end of his time with us, he was technically and physically a complete player. People could see he would reach the top immediately.
“A great left foot, he had potential aerially, covered a lot of the pitch, stepped into both attacking and defensive areas with great ease and a lot of potential to score goals.”
Merino arrived at the Osasuna academy at the age of 16 in the summer of 2012, already a minor celebrity thanks to his father Angel Miguel – a club legend of nearly 200 appearances turned youth coach.
His towering stature for one so young however came from his mother Maite – a professional basketball player in her prime – while his brothers were also ready-born athletes.
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Osasuna’s most successful products include ex-Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta and former Gunners full-back Nacho Monreal, yet would often have their great youth talents snatched by neighbouring rivals Athletic Bilbao, such as Javi Martinez – a nine-time Bundesliga champion and two-time Champions League winner with Bayern Munich.
But there was never a chance of Merino deserting, such was his love for family-club Osasuna, a decision that turned out to be pivotal in the long run.
In a tumultuous 2014/15 campaign that saw Osasuna narrowly avoid relegation from the Spanish second tier, Mateo was made interim coach in February 2015 and immediately promoted an 18-year-old Merino to the first team.
Mateo explained: “What Osasuna gives young players is a charm, with demanding conditions that give them the necessary attributes to succeed.
“The fact that players from here go on to play at big clubs, you can see they have been motivated by being in the lower leagues, showing their potential.
“[Merino] Is proud to have become the type of player he is with us. It was special to see him arrive in the first team, like when you go to the salt and see the players from the quarry.
“His debut came about in a very compromised situation, and from there he rose. It was an indisputable pillar of his famous rise to where we see him now.
“To be thrown in and to do what he did, there was no doubt that he was no longer just a footballer, but one who was going to end up where he is now at Arsenal.”
Becoming an ‘influential player’
Merino played a starring role the following season, driving Osasuna to La Liga promotion via the play-offs with four goals in 34 league appearances.
Mateo added: “Ever since, in every club he has been at, he has been an influential player.”
From the outside, this perhaps did not look to be the case during underwhelming spells with Borussia Dortmund in 2016/17 and Newcastle in 2017/18.
But Merino soon found a home at Real Sociedad before being highlighted by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta this summer as a vital cog in the club’s Premier League title charge.
No doubt Spaniard Arteta was impressed enough by compatriot Merino’s influence on Spain’s Euros triumph in July – including a quarter-final extra-time headed winner to knock out Germany – to bring him to the Emirates for £32million.
Merino is in contention to make his Prem debut on Saturday against Southampton after finally making his first appearance in the mid-week Champions League 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain following a freak shoulder injury in his first training session back in August.
But there are those at Osasuna who are already counting down the days until Merino ends his career back in Pamplona in a fairy tale return.
Mateo said: “Having had a father who has been a player and then to see the son, for those of us who are ‘Osasunistas’ it fills us with pride. That root continues to be maintained.
“When a player touches the roof of football, at world or European level, to have them return would bring that pride back. It would be beautiful.”
