We were able to interview Mikel Merino, a midfielder for Real Sociedad. The 23-year-old from Navarre can boast an impressive track record despite his young age. Mikel made his debut for Osasuna and quickly made a name for himself in the Rojillas’ ranks. This led to him being signed by Borussia Dortmund. The following season, he moved to Newcastle United, and from there he returned to La Liga, where he is one of the key players in Real Sociedad’s line-up, as well as in the Spanish national team’s youth squads.
Interview with Mikel Merino / Real Sociedad's player
*Fútbol Emotion: Advice and support from those closest to you are a fundamental part of a footballer’s career. Looking to your father, a former professional footballer, as a role model, what is the piece of advice he has given you that you bear in mind most in your day-to-day life?
*Mikel Merino: I’ve certainly received a great deal of advice that’s been very useful to me. Above all, my parents have helped me to keep my feet on the ground, always aim high, believe in myself and be ambitious. But all of this, looking back and reflecting on where I come from – my roots. Working day in, day out to achieve my goals and hold my own in this tough profession.
*FE: You’re a self-confessed basketball fan, and we imagine you’ll have been following the Spanish national team’s victory at the World Cup. Where does this passion come from?
*MM: Perhaps my mum, who played professionally, has passed on the bug to me – that might well be the case. I’ve followed basketball since I was little; obviously, football came first for me, and after all these years, I can say I made the right choice… (laughs). Despite everything, I still follow basketball very closely to this day; I find it a really entertaining sport and, at times, even more so than football. I don’t know, but perhaps when I retire, I’ll give basketball a go.
*FE: You’ve been working with adidas for many years. We’ve seen you make your debut in adidas adipure boots, then in Ace boots, play for Newcastle in Nemeziz boots and, finally, in Predator boots. What’s the biggest innovation or improvement you’ve seen in football boots?
*MM: I’ve been with adidas ever since I started playing football. I’ve always loved the brand and the iconic players who have represented it. In fact, just as young people look up to their idols and want to wear their boots, that still happens to me too. I feel very comfortable playing in Predators, and it’s true that throughout my career I’ve tried out different models and ranges from adidas, such as adipure. In the latter case, in particular, it was because of the leather upper, which I loved. As time goes by, the materials improve; they’re of the highest quality. In fact, it hardly matters anymore whether the boots are made of synthetic or leather, as the feel of the ball is practically the same these days. The fact that the Predators don’t have laces is also a matter of comfort, and although it might sound silly, the strikes on the ball are incredible; there’s no interference from the laces and there’s a noticeable difference compared to the laced version.
*FE: Do you have any boots in your collection that bring back fond memories?
*MM: I’ve got quite a few pairs of boots tucked away, but the ones I’m particularly fond of are the ones I wore on my debut – a pair of black and green adidas adipure 11Pro. When I look at them, they remind me of the Mikel I used to be… that young lad. It makes me feel really nostalgic.
*FE: Had you heard of Fútbol Emotion before?
*MM: Yes, of course. In fact, I’ve shopped at the Pamplona branch – for a birthday present or even just a little something for my siblings. My colleagues have also told me a lot about Fútbol Emotion. It’s really great to have this sort of shop – not just for the little ones, but for anyone who loves the sport or is a fan of football and futsal.
*FE: Nowadays, lots of boys and girls are asking us for Mikel Merino’s boots. What sort of boots was Mikel Merino looking for when he was young?
*MM: I really liked the adidas Predator boots worn by David Beckham and Steven Gerrard… These were the sort of players I looked up to and who inspired me to try and incorporate what I saw in them into my own game.
