Mikel Merino has just scored winning goals in back-to-back World Cup knockout games for Spain.
Remarkably, he is the first player in World Cup history to achieve that feat as a substitute.
He was doubtful to even make the tournament after a stress fracture of his foot earlier this year.
Amid his heroics for his country, a fascinating report from Diario AS in the summer of 2024 has resurfaced.
According to the Spanish outlet, there was a conflict at Atletico Madrid that summer over midfield recruitment.
Manager Diego Simeone was pushing for Mikel Merino. Andrea Berta, then Atletico’s sporting director, preferred Conor Gallagher.
How big can a fit Mikel Merino be for Arsenal next season after his heroics for Spain?
Berta got his way and Atletico signed Gallagher from Chelsea for £38million, while Merino moved to Arsenal for around £32million.
Arsenal are benefiting from Andrea Berta deciding not to sign Mikel Merino
Gallagher made 77 appearances for Atletico across 18 months, scoring seven goals. His work rate and tenacity initially seemed like a natural fit for a Simeone midfield, but he never truly nailed down an unshakeable starting role.
In January this year, Atletico sold him to Tottenham for around £34million, a small loss on their initial investment and a relatively short-lived experiment.
Merino, meanwhile, has become one of Arsenal’s most clutch performers, with ten of his eleven Premier League goals for the club either drawing them level or putting them ahead.
He scored a stoppage-time winner against Portugal and repeated the feat against Belgium to drag Spain into the World Cup semi-finals.
He cost less than Gallagher but has delivered considerably more.
And ironically, Berta preferring Gallagher over Merino ended up handing Arsenal one of their best signings of the Mikel Arteta era.
Arsenal fans are split on Andrea Berta’s decision-making
Some Arsenal fans remain split on Berta. The Merino situation at Atletico ultimately worked in Arsenal’s favour, but it’s not a great look in hindsight.
And there are questions about some calls he has made since arriving in north London.
Most notably, Berta reportedly pivoted to Viktor Gyokeres last summer when Arteta had wanted Benjamin Sesko.
Whether that was the right call is debatable given Gyokeres’ mixed reception among supporters.
He did score more goals in the league (15) than the Manchester United forward (11), though.
Berta has made good decisions and questionable ones. On Merino, he got it wrong, and Arsenal got lucky because of it.
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