Fran Mérida

Infobox Football biography
playername = Fran Mérida


fullname = Francisco Mérida Pérez
height = height|m=1.74
nickname =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1990|3|4
cityofbirth = Barcelona
countryofbirth = Spain
currentclub = Arsenal
clubnumber = 43
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1998–2005
2006–2007
youthclubs = FC Barcelona Arsenal
years = 2007–
2008
clubs = Arsenal → Real Sociedad (loan)
caps(goals) = 00 (0)
14 (1)
pcupdate = 2008-02-17
nationalyears =
nationalteam =
nationalcaps(goals) =
ntupdate =

Francisco Mérida Pérez (born 4 March 1990 in Barcelona) is a Spanish football midfielder who is currently at Arsenal of the English Premier League.

Career

Barcelona

Mérida joined the youth ranks of FC Barcelona at the age of eight but left the club in September 2005 and was reportedly hidden away by his agent, Joseba Díaz leading to speculation that he would leave for England with no compensation for the Spanish club as was the case when Cesc Fàbregas joined Arsenal from Barcelona. Fran Merida's parents had become uneasy about all the young players joining Barcelona and felt that youngster would have a better chance elsewhere. Therefore, they approached Díaz, also Cesc Fabregas' agent, and he promptly alerted Real Madrid, A.C. Milan, and Arsenal. Barcelona's fears were realized when Mérida joined Arsenal without compensation, as he had not signed a contract with Barcelona.

Contract controversy

On October 9, 2007, Mérida was ordered by the courts to pay a fee around €3.2million -- which is being appealed -- to FC Barcelona as compensation for his "failing to meet the terms of a personal pre-contract" with Barcelona. [cite web| url=http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7270520 | title= Barca wins lawsuit against Arsenal's Merida | work=Fox Sports| date=2005-10-17] The decision could have serious implications for clubs in England, where players can sign professional contracts at 16, two years earlier than in Spain. In response, a Madrid-based lawyer, Rodrigo García, was quoted as saying, "English teams will now think again before signing a young Spanish player...It's an important ruling." [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/10/11/sfnbar111.xml Fran Merida hit for £2m by Barcelona]

Arsenal

He signed professional terms with Arsenal after his 17th birthday.cite news |title=Fran Merida signs professional terms|publisher=arsenal.com |date=2007-03-08|url=http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=reserves+and+youth&article=452971&lid=&Title=Fran+Merida+signs+professional+terms |accessdate=2007-08-02] He scored on his first team debut for Arsenal in a friendly against Boreham Wood in August 2006.cite news |last=Harris |first=Chris |title=Banfield - We have high hopes for Merida |publisher=arsenal.com |date=2006-08-07|url=http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=reserves+and+youth&article=408364&lid=&Title=Banfield+-+We+have+high+hopes+for+Merida%20Banfield |accessdate=2007-08-02] His competitive first-team debut came on 25 September 2007, when he came on as a 91st minute substitute in Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Newcastle in the League Cup third round, [ [http://www.skysports.com/football/match_facts/0,19762,11065_2889420,00.html Sky Sports - Match facts (Arsenal v. Newcastle)] ] and he made further substitute's appearances in a 3-0 win against Sheffield United in the fourth round, and a 3-2 win against Blackburn Rovers in the quarter-finals. On April 3rd 2008, Mérida extended his deal with Arsenal by signing a long-term (unspecified) contract, securing his future with Arsenal. He is expected to play an important role from next season as manager Arsène Wenger described him as "an absolutely amazing player". [cite web|url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3380752,00.html|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Wenger delight at Merida deal] He made his first start for Arsenal in a 6-0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup on September 23, 2008.

Loan to Real Sociedad

On December 27, 2007, Iñaki Badiola, then-prospective presidential candidate of the Spanish club Real Sociedad, claimed he agreed a loan deal with Arsenal for Mérida till the end of the "Segunda División" season. Badiola became Real Sociedad president on January 4 and Merida's loan to Real Sociedad was confirmed five days later. [cite web | url=http://www.realsociedad.com/caste/home/real.asp?menu=110100&id=82366| title=Mérida: "Aportaré mi granito de arena para intentar ascender"|language=Spanish|work=RealSociedad.com] He made 14 appearances during the loan.

International career

Mérida was one of the star member of the Spanish U-17 squad, that won the 2007 UEFA U-17 Championships.cite news |last=Saffer |first=Paul |title=Mérida to make Spain proud|publisher=UEFA |date=2007-05-02|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/under17/news/kind=1/newsid=533576.html|accessdate=2007-08-02] In July 2007, he also starred for the Spain U-17 squad in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea but unfortunately, they finished runners up, cite news |title=Lehmann called up for friendly against England|publisher=arsenal.com |date=2007-07-25|url=http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=478732&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Lehmann+called+up+for+friendly+against+England |accessdate=2007-08-02}] losing to Nigeria in a penalty shootout, with Mérida missing the second penalty of the three taken.

Arsenal career statistics

:"(correct as of 25 September 2008)"

References

External links

*soccerbase|45302|Fran Merida
* [http://www.arsenal.com/player.asp?thisNav=reserves+and+youth&plid=65598&clid=4436&cpid=825 arsenal.com profile]