Mikel Merino (now playing for Arsenal)

[Teasy]

We can definitely demand all the cash up front or no deal.

[toontownman]

Maybe they just realised Merino wants a 5m release clause inserted into his contract so he can move on in January.

[GideonShandy]

We can definitely demand all the cash up front or no deal.

 

It'll depend on what the release clause says.

[Teasy]

I think usually its just a case of the amount being specified, with agreement on how its paid having to be made between the clubs (unless full amount is offered of course).  But I suppose anything can be put in a contract, would seem unreasonable to allow him to specify how the club is paid his release fee though.

[LoveItIfWeBeatU]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-explains-reason-mikel-14896728

 

Rafa Benitez explains reason why Mikel Merino has a release clause in his Newcastle United contract

Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino will join Real Sociedad in the coming day after they exercised a release clause in his deal

 

By Chris Waugh NUFC Writer

06:00, 12 JUL 2018

 

Rafa Benitez admits Mikel Merino’s imminent departure is a “pity” - but believes Newcastle United have signed a ready-made replacement in Ki Sung-yueng.

 

Merino will join Real Sociedad in the coming days after the Spanish club triggered a £10million release clause in the 22-year-old’s Newcastle deal - holding off competition from Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Real Betis for the midfielder’s signature.

 

 

With the Spain Under-21 international determined to leave in search of first-team football, Benitez resigned himself to losing Merino during this transfer window more than six weeks ago and instead starting sourcing a suitable successor.

 

Given that Ki was available on a free transfer after his Swansea City contract expired, Newcastle moved quickly once South Korea were eliminated from the World Cup in order to sign the midfielder up on a two-year deal.

 

“It was a pity because obviously he wanted to play more football. He is a young player and he struggled to get back into the team because [Mo] Diame and [Jonjo] Shelvey were doing so well,” Benitez said of Merino’s departure following the 1892 Foundation Cup at the club’s Academy.

 

“That meant Merino didn’t get much gametime, then we had three or four Spanish clubs who were interested in him.

 

“In the end it was something we couldn’t control because he decided to go. We knew that could happen, so we had to be prepared - and in the end we were.”

 

When Merino first joined Newcastle on loan from Borussia Dortmund last summer, he was hailed as an excellent signing following a string of promising early performances.

 

But a back injury and subsequent loss of form saw Merino slip behind Shelvey and Diame in the midfield pecking order, and he started just one Premier League match after January.

 

Some fans have voiced their frustrations at the fact United will lose Merino for just £10m due to a release clause in his deal, but Benitez insists the Magpies had no choice but to accept that such a condition was in his contract if they wanted to sign him in the first place. In fact, Newcastle would not have signed Merino at all had they not exercised a similar clause in the midfielder’s Dortmund contract.

 

Although Benitez would have ideally liked to have kept Merino, he is pleased that United secured a like-for-like replacement in Ki.

 

And, while Merino was a young player who had the potential to improve, 29-year-old Ki brings with him more than 160 games’ worth of Premier League experience and 104 international caps.

 

“He will bring experience. He has experience in the Premier League, he has quality. Mikel was a young player with great potential, but now we have a player who has been there before,” Benitez added of South Korea captain Ki.

 

“When we first signed Mikel, people forget that the reason we got him from Borussia Dortmund was because he had this condition too - he had a release clause which he could use if he was not playing as much as he wanted.

 

“In this case we did that, he was playing really well for us, and I was really pleased with him at the beginning of the season.

 

“After he had the injury, when he went two months without playing, he played less, and after Jonjo and Diame did really well.

 

“But that is football - and we move on.”

 

Of the 4 clubs who were interested in him, Real Betis finished 6th, Sevilla finished 7th, Real Sociedad (where Merino is going) finished 13th and Athletic Bilbao finished 16th.

[Guest reefatoon]

Shame. He didn't seem like he had much fight in him to try and get a place back and just wants to move on. No doubt he will have the exact same clause in the next contract just in case he misses some games for them too. Soft cock.

[Happinesstan]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-explains-reason-mikel-14896728

 

Rafa Benitez explains reason why Mikel Merino has a release clause in his Newcastle United contract

Newcastle United midfielder Mikel Merino will join Real Sociedad in the coming day after they exercised a release clause in his deal

 

By Chris Waugh NUFC Writer

06:00, 12 JUL 2018

 

Rafa Benitez admits Mikel Merino’s imminent departure is a “pity” - but believes Newcastle United have signed a ready-made replacement in Ki Sung-yueng.

 

Merino will join Real Sociedad in the coming days after the Spanish club triggered a £10million release clause in the 22-year-old’s Newcastle deal - holding off competition from Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Real Betis for the midfielder’s signature.

 

 

With the Spain Under-21 international determined to leave in search of first-team football, Benitez resigned himself to losing Merino during this transfer window more than six weeks ago and instead starting sourcing a suitable successor.

 

Given that Ki was available on a free transfer after his Swansea City contract expired, Newcastle moved quickly once South Korea were eliminated from the World Cup in order to sign the midfielder up on a two-year deal.

 

“It was a pity because obviously he wanted to play more football. He is a young player and he struggled to get back into the team because [Mo] Diame and [Jonjo] Shelvey were doing so well,” Benitez said of Merino’s departure following the 1892 Foundation Cup at the club’s Academy.

 

“That meant Merino didn’t get much gametime, then we had three or four Spanish clubs who were interested in him.

 

“In the end it was something we couldn’t control because he decided to go. We knew that could happen, so we had to be prepared - and in the end we were.”

 

When Merino first joined Newcastle on loan from Borussia Dortmund last summer, he was hailed as an excellent signing following a string of promising early performances.

 

But a back injury and subsequent loss of form saw Merino slip behind Shelvey and Diame in the midfield pecking order, and he started just one Premier League match after January.

 

Some fans have voiced their frustrations at the fact United will lose Merino for just £10m due to a release clause in his deal, but Benitez insists the Magpies had no choice but to accept that such a condition was in his contract if they wanted to sign him in the first place. In fact, Newcastle would not have signed Merino at all had they not exercised a similar clause in the midfielder’s Dortmund contract.

 

Although Benitez would have ideally liked to have kept Merino, he is pleased that United secured a like-for-like replacement in Ki.

 

And, while Merino was a young player who had the potential to improve, 29-year-old Ki brings with him more than 160 games’ worth of Premier League experience and 104 international caps.

 

“He will bring experience. He has experience in the Premier League, he has quality. Mikel was a young player with great potential, but now we have a player who has been there before,” Benitez added of South Korea captain Ki.

 

“When we first signed Mikel, people forget that the reason we got him from Borussia Dortmund was because he had this condition too - he had a release clause which he could use if he was not playing as much as he wanted.

 

“In this case we did that, he was playing really well for us, and I was really pleased with him at the beginning of the season.

 

“After he had the injury, when he went two months without playing, he played less, and after Jonjo and Diame did really well.

 

“But that is football - and we move on.”

 

Of the 4 clubs who were interested in him, Real Betis finished 6th, Sevilla finished 7th, Real Sociedad (where Merino is going) finished 13th and Athletic Bilbao finished 16th.

 

An intriguing lack of quotes around the bit that says Ki is like for like.

[joeyt]

Gone

[Wilson]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[joeyt]

[TK-421]

Ryder clearly hasn't mastered 'right click, save' yet and just took a photo of his monitor screen with his phone.

 

 

[thomas]

:lol:

 

Ryder getting abuse will never not be funny to me.

[NG32]

Sigh, hopefully the money will be reinvested. 

[STM]

Hope this speeds up some incomings.

[Unbelievable]

Bummer. Had high hopes for him here. We've been proactive in replacing him to a reasonable standard, which is good obviously, but let's reinvest the proceeds in other areas of the pitch now to make us stronger.

[STM]

We are doing really to have not spent a fucking penny so far.

[TRon]

Goodbye sweet Pr.....aah fuck it.

[Mike]

Was absolutely class before the injury/Diame deciding to be God. Wish him all the best.

[Stottie]

If he genuinely wants to play and improve, then good luck to him. So many players out there just taking the money and sitting on a bench or not even in a matchday squad. A certain individual with ginger hair springs to mind.

[Menace]

Still shocked about this.

[Roids]

I'm pissed about this sale, kid's got loads of talent. Another Thauvin imo

[Dinho lad]

Half or so season on the bench and then runs away.

 

Fuck him.

[Matt]

Maybe he's like Ba and his main aim in life is to get through as many signing-on fees for him and his agent as possible.

[Lenny]

I can't say it sits overly right that he's gone running the moment he's required to work for a place in the team. I liked him as a player but that's not really the attitude you want in your squad.

[Ketsbaia]

Something has stunk for a while with Merino. Hugely disappointed in him for doing this. What, he had no confidence in his ability to usurp Mo Diame? It's not like he's joining a bigger club for bigger money.

 

Good riddance, unfortunately.