^ ^ ‘Wants to play’ – Mikel Arteta warned that £28m Arsenal star could demand transfer exit

Mikel Arteta has been given a warning (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has been warned that Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino may seek a transfer exit after winning the World Cup with Spain this summer.

Merino played a pivotal role off the bench for La Roja, scoring match-winning goals against Portugal and Belgium to help guide his nation to their second World Cup trophy.

The Spaniard will return to Arsenal in the coming weeks as the Gunners ramp up preparations to begin the defence of their Premier League title.

Merino has emerged as a versatile option for Arsenal since his arrival from Real Sociedad for £28million in 2024, deployed as a midfielder but also a makeshift striker.

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An ankle injury in January brought his league season to a premature end last time out, with the Spaniard making only 10 starts and 12 further cameos from the bench.

And former Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta believes Merino may start to consider a move away from the Emirates if he doesn’t start more games next season.

‘Mikel Merino will not enjoy being a bench player at Arsenal,’ he told BetVictor. ‘It works in the national team because of his specific role and recent goals, which makes things easier for everyone.

Mikel Merino helped Spain win the World Cup (Picture: Getty)

‘However, he is an ambitious player who wants to be in the starting lineup. If he isn’t, he may look elsewhere.

‘The national team is different, with roles for players like Oyarzabal or Borja Iglesias. In a club setting, you don’t want to be the 12th man who only comes on when goals are needed. He wants to play regularly.’

Speaking over the World Cup, Merino insisted that he remained ‘happy’ at Arsenal and was not looking too far into the future.

Arteta has used Merino as a midfielder and makeshift striker (Picture: Getty)

‘I’m calm, I’m happy there, they make me feel as part of the family at the club,’ he told COPE.

‘I’m not thinking much more than that. I’m old, so I’m making the most of every day and not looking beyond that.’

Asked how he deals with often being a substitute for club and country, the midfielder added: ‘Well, it’s as best we can. We’re all competitive, and if we’re at the top, it’s because we’re people who know they’re very good and can contribute at any time.

‘We all see ourselves as starters in our minds; it’s another thing entirely how we accept the role we’re given. If you’re going to complain about being a substitute, this isn’t the team for you, and it’s not your national team.

‘That’s why it’s considered an exemplary squad, because it’s very difficult to be here, to be a substitute, or to get a few minutes and perform as well as the players who come on.’

Merino could well find himself facing more competition for minutes at club level, with Arsenal keen to bolster their midfield options over the summer transfer window.

The Gunners had an approach for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott turned down in June, and are still exploring a deal for Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes.

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^ ^ Man Utd star agrees transfer move as Michael Carrick approves another summer exit

Zirkzee is ready to make the move back to Serie A (Picture: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has given the green light to a move to Juventus this summer.

Juventus are eager to reinforce their attacking options and want to sign Zirkzee alongside Randal Kolo Muani who had an impressive loan spell at the club during the second-half of the 2024-25 season.

Muani spent last season on loan at Tottenham with the France international eager to return to the Bianconeri.

Juventus regard Muani and Zirkzee as two ideal options to freshen up their attack having approached the Dutchman’s camp to gauge his interest over a return to Italy.

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Gazzetta dello Sport report the Serie A giants have received an ‘initial yes’ from Zirkzee, who is excited over the prospect of a return to Italy after two years with Bologna.

Juventus’ interest is being driven by the club’s new head of football Ricky Massara who was determined to sign the 25-year-old during the January transfer window for Roma.

Massara spent ‘hours on the phone’ with Zirkzee’s representatives with the player himself also agreeing to make the move.

Zirkzee started just one game for Carrick last season (Picture: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

The deal eventually fell by the wayside after United’s decision to sack Ruben Amorim in January shelved any mid-season business.

Gazzetta dello Sport has previously claimed United would be prepared to let Zirkzee leave for a fee of around €35million to €40million, or on loan with an option or obligation to buy.

The forward was part of the team that got their pre-season campaign up and running against Wrexham on Sunday but he struggled for minutes under Michael Carrick last season despite the club’s light schedule.

Zirkzee started just one match under Carrick with Bryan Mbeumo or Matheus Cunha preferred up top when Benjamin Sesko was not selected.

Carrick set to start his first full season in charge (Picture: Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)

United also want to raise additional funds for incoming transfer business, eager to sign a third central midfielder having already brought in Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

While there have been flashes of brilliance, Zirkzee’s time at United has ultimately been undermined by his poor goal return. The Dutchman has scored just five goals in the Premier League since his £36.5million arrival from Bologna in the summer of 2024, nine in total across 75 appearances.

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has long held reservations over Zirkzee’s chances of succeeding at United, explaining in January his move to Old Trafford was a mistake when there was the option of staying in Italy.

‘For me, there was always a doubt that it was the right decision to go to Manchester United. I think he should have stayed in Serie A. He was doing well with Bologna and I think he should have gone to a better team in Italy,’ Gullit told Metro.

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^ ^ The one Argentina player who didn’t turn his back on Spain’s World Cup lift

Jose Manuel Lopez was the only Argentina player to front up to Spain’s World Cup lift (Picture: X)

Argentina’s squad have been branded the sorest of sore losers following their World Cup final defeat to Spain – but one player showed his class to defy his team-mates’ shameful behaviour after full-time.

Ferran Torres’ emphatic extra-time strike proved the difference in Sunday’s bad-tempered finale, which Argentina finished with only ten men on the field after Enzo Fernandez’s sending off for a second bookable offence.

But the drama did not let up once referee Slavko Vincic had blown his whistle at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium to signal the end of an unforgettable tournament.

Violent clashes between the two sets of players threatened to overshadow Spain’s jubilant celebrations, as Leandro Paredes appeared to become the second Argentinian to be given his marching orders.

According to the BBC, Paredes’ red was subsequently removed from the record and no further disciplinary action by FIFA as a consequence of the midfielder’s ugly altercation with Gavi and Eric Garcia.

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The skullduggery and shoddy behaviour continued from Argentina, though, as seemingly the entire squad were seen with their backs turned while Rodri held the coveted trophy loft surrounded by his team-mates on the podium.

The shameful pictures spread like wildfire across social media, drawing a fierce backlash across the footballing world, with Argentina’s players opting to face their own supporters rather than the winning team.

Argentina’s squad have been condemned for their post-match antics (Picture: Reuters)

Lopez showed his class while those around him did anything but (Picture: Vozpopuli)

Everyone apart from Jose Manuel Lopez that is, who, three days on from the final, is being showered with praise from all corners for demonstrating to his team-mates the right way to lose.

Footage which has gone viral clearly shows Lopez – an unused substitute on the day – being a good sport and courteously fronting up to Spain’s celebrations with his hands placed behind his back.

The Palmeiras striker is stood just inches apart from Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, who is staring in the complete opposite direction as United States President Donald Trump greets Rodri and Co.

José Manuel "#Flaco" López is a true #gentleman. The 🇧🇷 soccer team Palmeiras striker was the only Argentina player who refused to turn his back and instead respectfully watched 🇪🇸 World Cup trophy presentation at MetLife Stadium, 🇺🇸. pic.twitter.com/IJ32KtR7qT

— Julieta Rossi Pedrosa ✝️🇵🇹🇮🇹🇺🇦 (@julieta_pedrosa) July 21, 2026

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbAxrO7gofQ/?hl=en

‘Lopez is a true gentleman,’ one commentator said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

A second fan wrote: ‘Lopez kept his gaze on the new champions while the rest of the Argentine national team looked toward the stands.

‘His gesture of respect in raising Spain’s Cup says a lot about him. You can win or lose but you should never fail to show respect.’

‘All over the world they (we) are recognising that gesture of honour and sportsmanship. Great job, Flaco,’ said a third.

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‘The one Argentinian player who showed not just integrity, but a willingness to stand against his own team,’ wrote another.

‘The only Argentinian player who did not turn his back and who clapped for the Spanish winners.

‘I hope a European team picks him up. Class and integrity.’

Lopez (right) was an unused substitute in the final (Picture: Getty)

An emotional Lionel Scaloni defended his squad in the face of widespread criticism, insisting his players had set a ‘great example for our people and country’ while ‘showing how to lose’.

‘Spain were the better side – that’s the truth – but I’ll cherish the memory of [my side], of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far. We have to place immense value on this because it takes so much effort.

‘We arrived here facing a realistic situation, but if the players leave everything on the pitch, as they did, it sets a great example for our people and our country.

‘We have to pick ourselves up again, there is no other way.

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‘I certainly value the runners-up spot because it takes so much to get here, and I think it deserves huge recognition.

‘Naturally, we would have liked to win, but ultimately, I feel gratitude. That is the only word I have, along with sadness, of course.

‘But when you give everything like that, regardless of whether you play well or poorly, it’s very hard to find fault.”

The Argentina head coach added: ‘We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat. We are showing that we know how to lose.

‘We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.’

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