Merida scored a stunner against Liverpool in the Carling Cup
on Wednesday
Watch the goal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rhnVyCeGQ4
The £10million-rated midfielder, 19, scored a stunner
against Liverpool in the Carling Cup on Wednesday. But he could be
a free agent in the summer and Atletico president Enrique Cerezo
confirmed last night: "He has entered into our plans for next
season. "He is a player that interests us. The decision rests with
the kid because he is free in June."
Merida wants to keep his options open and is currently
talking to the Gunners about a new deal. The Spaniard, picked up
from Barcelona in 2006, said: "At the moment I am talking to the
club so I don't know what is going to happen.
"Hopefully everything is going to be all right but we
are going to sit down and talk about it. "I am really happy in
London."
Sources close to Merida suggest his family are in
favour of a move back to Spain. He has made only four Carling Cup
starts for the Gunners and spent four months on loan at Real
Sociedad last year.
Merida shares the same agent as Cesc Fabregas, Joseba
Diaz, and a source close to the player indicated yesterday: "Fran
views the possible return to Spain as an attractive one but he has
still not decided about his future."
Merida's stay at Arsenal has not been without
controversy.
He was ordered by the courts to pay around £2m to Barca
as compensation - which he is appealing - for "failing to meet the
terms of a personal pre-contract."