ARSENAL are ready to fork out £2.3million in
compensation for 17-year-old Barca whizkid Fran
Merida.
An independent tribunal in Spain ruled against Merida and in favour
of his old club Barcelona leaving the teenager with the
bill.
The furious Spaniards said Merida signed a pre-contract agreement
with them when he was 14 but quit days before his 16th birthday. He
joined Arsenal as a trainee once he was 16.
There is no dispute between the Gunners and Barca but the Premier
League leaders are happy to pay up for a kid they reckon will
become a superstar.
