Mikel Merino outed by international teammate for saying he’s jealous of transfer move

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The hard work doesn’t stop for the Arsenal squad as the September international break is underway.

18 Arsenal players are on international duty right now, preparing to represent their nations in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

Jurrien Timber has been on media duty while with the Netherlands, but he’s not the only Gunner whose name has made the headlines.

In Spain, Mikel Merino has been a topic of conversation, not because of what he’s been doing with the Spanish national team, but because of a chat he had with a teammate.

• READ MORE: Arsenal star warned one issue he has at the Emirates could now happen on international duty

Carlos Soler reveals transfer discussion with Mikel Merino

Merino is on international duty with Luis de la Fuente’s squad alongside David Raya and Martin Zubimendi.

Spanish outlet Sport has since relayed comments made by Carlos Soler, who revealed a conversation he had with the Arsenal midfielder following his deadline day move to Real Sociedad. 

Both Zubimendi and Merino were signed by Arsenal from Sociedad, with Soler making the move from Paris-Saint Germain to the Basque club after spending the season on loan at West Ham.

Upon being presented by Real Sociedad, Soler revealed that he’d ‘spoken with’ Merino, who admitted that he has some feelings of envy regarding his national teammate’s transfer.

“I’ve spoken with Mikel Merino, and he told me he envies me, and I’m going to enjoy it a lot.”

It’s unsurprising that Merino spoke so highly of Sociedad to Soler, as before joining Arsenal, the 29-year-old had spent six years in San Sebastian. 

Merino’s role at Arsenal is not clear

Sociedad is a club that its players take great pride in representing, as Arsenal know too well through the accounts of Zubimendi, Merino and Kieran Tierney, who spent a season on loan in the Basque Country.

In North London, things are very different in the sense that the pressure is greater, particularly within the squad, as Merino now knows. 

Arteta found joy in utilising Merino as a makeshift striker last season, which worked, but now that Viktor Gyokeres is on board, it leaves the Spaniard away from the favoured XI.

The same situation finds the player in midfield, as Zubimendi and Rice are undoubtedly Arteta’s favoured pivot.

The 2025/26 campaign will be a testing one for Merino as he looks to maintain form while battling the pressure of competing for game time, pressure that is only rising with the World Cup in mind.