Some Newcastle United fans have been reacting on Twitter after it was reported that Mikel Merino is edging closer to leaving St James’ Park to join Real Sociedad in Spain.
Reliable Spanish journalist Kike Marin claimed via his personal Twitter account on Monday that Merino, 22, has said yes to joining Sociedad, and there’s a chance that his exit from Tyneside could be agreed within the next 24 hours.
Mikel Merino ha dado el sí a la @RealSociedad que en breve podría cerrar un acuerdo con el @NUFC Quizás pueda ser hoy mismo, pero es poco probable. El centrocampista navarro de 22 años en un gran fichaje, por calidad, experiencia y proyección. #RealSociedad pic.twitter.com/YcIlhatPUv
— Kike Marin** (@Kike_Marin_) June 25, 2018
Merino only joined Newcastle on a permanent basis in October after a strong start to his loan spell at St James’ Park.
Rafa Benitez scooped up the midfielder from Borussia Dortmund and instantly made him a key part of his midfield, playing in every Premier League fixture he was available to play in up until the end of 2017.
Newcastle fans are renowned for being extremely passionate and I’m sure they’d appear at the top end of the Passion Meter – a survey of over 5,000 football fans from around the world.
Even though Merino had quickly become a fan favourite, Benitez axed him from his role as being a mainstay of the starting line-up, and started to use him as more of a bench-warmer.
Newcastle fans now appear to be torn over the idea of the Spanish midfielder leaving St James’ Park.
One fan claimed it is a “massive mistake” to be letting Merino go.
Here is a selection of their tweets:
Don’t get why we are letting him go..
— Luke (@LukeNUFC1993) June 25, 2018
Wish he was staying, but we just need to get this done ASAP, Mbemba as well.
— ??SWAMPY???NUFC?? (@swampthing_71) June 25, 2018
12-15million euros for Merino apparently!? Got to think only way this is being allowed to happen is because he wants to go? #nufc
— Highland Geordie (@NUFC_Oscar86_) June 25, 2018
Wtf!! Why is the player who has the potential to be world class, we are allowing to leave!!!!!
— Stephen©? (@EstebanRoberto_) June 25, 2018
https://twitter.com/dalegorley/status/1011194225315237888
If Merino ends up leaving for another club this summer, I'm sure we will look back at him as the one who got away. Never got a solid run after his back injury. A solid preseason could do him well. #nufc
— Andrew McVittie (@Andrew_McVittie) June 25, 2018
a player with the most potential I have seen for a very long time and we're selling him. massive massive mistake.
— Jamie (@tyneassociation) June 25, 2018
According to statistics website Spotrac, Merino earns £35,000-a-week on his deal at Newcastle.