Spain head coach, Luis de la Fuente, has heaped praise on Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, insisting the midfielder is one of the most underrated players in Spanish football despite his brilliance.
“We are blessed with so many quality players, and Mikel is the perfect example of a footballer who excels in many areas. He is a genius, a world-class talent, yet often doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves in Spain,” De la Fuente told Tribuna.
The manager went further to describe Merino as “one of the very best in the world in his role,” adding that the team’s success is built on players who are humble, hardworking, and eager to keep improving.
Merino underlined that praise with a stunning hat-trick on Sunday night, inspiring Spain to a 6-0 demolition of Turkey in their World Cup qualifier at the Torku Arena.
The midfielder has been in red-hot form for La Roja, having also scored in the 3-0 victory over Bulgaria just days earlier.
His tally now stands at six goals in as many games for Spain in 2025, cementing his place as one of the nation’s standout performers.
