PAMPLONA, Spain — Mikel Merino Zazón don turn football star as him carry Spain enter semifinal of Euro 2024. Na him score one last-minute goal wey help Spain defeat Germany, ensuring dem pass to di next round.
After him move to Arsenal for London in August 2024, Merino don show say him na key player for di team. E join Arsenal after dem pay Real Sociedad 33.5 million euros, making him di most expensive transfer in Real Sociedad history.
Since di beginning of di year, Merino don score 8 goals in total, wey include 7 for Arsenal and 1 for di Spanish national team. For dis season, him don adapt to new striker position wey his coach, Mikel Arteta, suggest. Him reflect on di change, saying, “If you ask me, di first thing wey come my mind na ‘this na wetin I suppose do.’ I wan help di team in any way wey I fit.”
Merino grow up in a football family, with him papa, Miguel Merino Torres, wey don play for clubs like Osasuna and Celta de Vigo in di 80s and 90s. Miguel don turn coach after e retire, and him be major influence for Mikel life. Mikel don publicly appreciate him for di support and guidance,” e talk for one video wey e post on Father’s Day.
After him goal wey carry Spain enter semifinal, Mikel pay homage to him papa’s legacy. Exactly 33 years earlier, Miguel score for di same stadium, and him dey always celebrate by going round di corner flag. Mikel don copy dis act as a tribute to him father, his papa talk say na respect and love for him wey inspire di celebration.
Mikel mama, Maite Zazón, also dey active for di sport, as she don play professional basketball, while him two brothers also dey involved for different sports. Jon dey play basketball and Unai dey pursue football career.
On di personal side, Mikel dey keep him private life low-key, but e dey relationship with model Lola Liberal since 2019. Dem marry for Pamplona on June 1 last year, and she don show appreciation for him during him birthday say, “Thanks for making me di happiest woman every day.”
While football na him primary focus, Mikel also don pursue education, including technical sports course, and e get plans to study physiotherapy for di future. Plus, e no dey forget to enjoy time with family, friends, and him love for music and movies, joking say he like to see movies on di premiere day to share di experience with friends wey no don see am yet.
