من الأشهر اليوم؟

Former Newcastle midfielder is part of a ‘daring, offensive’ team preparing to face Manchester United in the Europa League
Mikel Merino was going into battle but at least he had a song to sing. There’s a pause, a smile and he begins, memories of St James’ Park. “He comes from Spain and he’s effing class. In fact, he’s better than Fàbregas: it’s Merino, la, la, la, Merino.” The lyrics haven’t left him, then. None of it has, he says laughing. “What I most take with me, the thing I’ll remember when the years pass, is the fans; the way they lived football.”
A former Newcastle, Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal player walk into a club. It could be the start of a joke; on Thursday, it’s part of Real Sociedad’s lineup: Merino, Adnan Januzaj, David Silva and Nacho Monreal facing an English team for the first time since departing the Premier League. “We talk about it sometimes,” Merino says. “It’s unique, special, we miss it. But we’re delighted to be here now.” Continue reading...