Mikel Merino goal to watch – Memories of Newcastle United as wins it so late for Spain v Germany | OneFootball

I don’t think many (any?) players have made such an impression for Newcastle United when playing so little time on the pitch, as Mikel Merino did at Newcastle United.

The midfielder only played 1,343 minutes in the Premier League for NUFC, starting 14 league games and another 10 appearances as a sub, with only the one goal – the late winner at home to Crystal Palace.

Only one season at St James’ Park after Rafa Benitez persuaded him to give Newcastle United a try but the midfielder injury affected that season.

Mikel Merino looked a surefire star of the future but Rafa picked him up for a bargain £10.5m, though the midfielder had a transfer release clause in his contract for the same figure.

Nobody knows exactly why it didn’t work out for Mikel Merino, as he loved his time on Tyneside (read below). My opinion is that he realised this was a club going nowhere under Mike Ashley and with Rafa Benitez heading into the final year of his deal, then set to be pushed out, Mikel Merino saw the writing on the wall.

I do wonder now, just how lovely a fit it would be, if Mikel Merino was at Newcastle United now and linking up with the likes of Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon and Isak (who he played with at Real Sociedad and spoke so well about him and Newcastle United when the striker moved in summer 2022 – read below).

Anyway, that one goal Mikel Merino did score for Newcastle United was a very late (86th minute) headed winner against Palace at St James’ Park back in October 2017.

No doubt plenty of Newcastle United fans were reminded of it when last night, with 119 minutes on the clock and penalties looking inevitable, Mikel Merino came up with this real top-quality headed winner for Spain against Germany, to take them into the 2024 Euros semi-finals…

Mikel Merino message to the Newcastle fans via his personal Instagram account – July 2018:

“Thank you very much for this amazing year to all the toon family.

“Massive experience that I’ll never forget.

“Thanks to the outstanding fans, who made me feel at home.

“All the best for the future and Howay the lads!”

Mikel Merino interviewed by Andy Mitten for The Athletic September 2022:

How were your experiences playing at Dortmund and in Newcastle?

“Dortmund wasn’t like I hoped it would be. When you go on an adventure like that, you get into a good mindset to play, to develop, to become an important figure. Then I arrived and things were not as I expected. I learnt a lot from a top club with top players and I’m the person I am because of my experience there. That helped push me to a higher level.

“Newcastle was amazing.

“I felt like I was home there, the people were so kind to me. I’d walk around the streets and everybody would call me. The stadium was always full, home and away. It was great to play in the Premier League, to experience the physical side of a league where you have to go strong in the tackles. It’s not about managing the ball and giving passes, but strength and going into battle.

“I thank Newcastle.

“I didn’t learn any Geordie phrases, learning English was difficult enough! But watching TV in English, Netflix and Game of Thrones, helped me learn the language. You have to pay attention; otherwise, you lose the drama.”

How do you think Isak will do in the Premier League with Newcastle?

“Alex has already started well (at Newcastle United).

“His mindset is very good. He can adapt to whatever you tell him.

“When he came here (to Real Sociedad from Borussia Dortmund), he had to adapt to a very specific system of playing where he had a specific role to make an exact movement when the ball was in a certain position. Being from Sweden and being able to adapt showed how smart he is.