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Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has named Rodrygo as the Real Madrid attacker he would like to play alongside. The Gunners will host Los Blancos in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, April 8.
Ahead of the game, Arsenal star Mikel Merino was asked which Real Madrid superstar he would like to play alongside. Los Blancos have no shortage of superstars in their ranks with Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr being their biggest stars.
However, Mikel Merino opted to choose Rodrygo over the trio and hailed him for his all-round game. The Spain international said, as quoted by Metro:
“It’s hard to pick one, but I’d probably say Rodrygo. I’m not saying he’s underrated, but he’s a player I really like: fast, physical, technical, he has great one-on-one skills, he’s good in space. Very complete.”
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Rodrygo has been a key player for Real Madrid since joining the Spanish giants in 2019 from Santos. He has 68 goals and 46 assists in 261 games to his name during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Merino, on the other hand, has been decent for Arsenal since joining the Gunners last summer from Real Sociedad. He has scored seven goals and provided two assists in 35 games this campaign.
Arsenal ready to use Real Madrid game to take a close look at youngster: Reports
Arsenal are reportedly looking to take advantage of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final to take a closer look at Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler. As reported by Defensa Central, Mikel Arteta is a huge admirer of the 20-year-old.
Guler is reportedly frustrated with his lack of playing time at Real Madrid since his move from Fenerbahce in 2023. He has only played 1170 minutes of first-team football this season after playing just 442 minutes last season.
Despite not playing regularly, he has three goals and seven assists this season which showcases his immense ability. Arsenal are reportedly ready to offer €30 million for the Turkey international's signature in the summer.
Guler is reportedly valued very highly at the Santiago Bernabeu and has a contract until 2029. However, the young attacking midfielder is reportedly far from happy with his limited opportunities on the pitch. Apart from Mikel Arteta's side, the youngster is also wanted by the likes of Inter Milan and Real Sociedad.
