But who should Toon be watching?
“You have to be always be positive about these things. At the moment it was crazy – we were scared, totally scared. But with the passing of days, you see it differently.”
And Merino has always been someone who studies, who analyses, who evaluates.
Perhaps that is due to the fact his father – who he describes as his “hero” and his “mentor” – was a professional footballer and then a coach.
Angel Merino played for clubs including Celta Vigo and Osasuna, helping his son to catch his break at the latter, and spent nine seasons playing in La Liga – something Newcastle’s latest signing is yet to experience.
“He [my father] was a footballer also. He played for Osasuna and played in La Liga,” Merino explains.
“For me he is like a hero, he is my mentor. He is my personal coach and I am really happy to have that relationship with him.
“He played nine years in the first division, so these are really good numbers um in 2007, but he has had quite a career.
The 32-year-old represented Italy at the 2010 World Cup and he has represented six clubs in Serie A, including Atalanta, Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Milan giants Inter and AC.
Now at Hellas Verona, Pazzini played an integral role in helping the Gialloblu win promotion to Italy’s top flight last season, scoring 23 goals.
Cerci is looking to resurrect his career at Verona, following an for a player in this era. I hope one day to become as good as he was, and I have time to try it.
“I was too young to see him play, but I have watched a lot of videos of him but when I was old enough to recognise things and remember things, he was not playing.”
Angel is an acquaintance of Rafa Benitez and the pair are in contact, so perhaps that helped facilitate his son’s transfer to Newcastle.
“He knows Rafa. They talk sometimes but I don’t know exactly how good they know each other,” Merino adds.
But it was not only his father’s football career which helped shape Merino into the rounded character he is now.
Having been born and raised in Pamplona, Merino regularly watched the city’s famous annual bull run.
As a child, he would stand behind the barrier and watch the animals rampage through the streets.
He explains: “I would go to the bull run but only to see. I would stand behind the wall, never to run because I underwhelming spell with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
The Italian international became a household name at Torino following spells with Roma, Brescia, Pisa, Atalanta and Fiorentina, representing his country at both the Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.
The winger’s form in Turin convinced Atleti manager Diego Simeone to splash out €16m on him in the summer of 2014.
But he failed to settle in the Spanish capital.
Loan spells at both AC Milan and Genoa followed before Verona think the people who run are crazy! I’m not brave enough to go and run in front of the bulls!
“The atmosphere is like a party. The whole place is filled and it is one of the best things I have seen in my life to go and enjoy this.
“When the race is going to start, everyone is really excited and then you know that people are going to be running for their life because you have a bull behind you.
“I don’t need [to do] it. People look at it like a thing they must do, it’s part of their party and they have to do it. “But I don’t feel the need to do it. “People get scared for their lives.” While people travel to Pamplona for the thrill of the bull chase, Merino has actually experienced a very real attempt on his and his team-mates’ lives.
He will never forget that terrible day in Dortmund, but he will not be shackled by it either.
Merino will analyse the experience and learn from it – just as he always does. picked him up on a free transfer this summer. Still only 29, Cerci still has a lot to prove, and will be keen to show he still has what it takes for Pecchia’s side.
Like Pazzini, Bessa played an important role in Verona’ promotion from Serie B last term.
The central midfielder scored eight goals from midfield and often dictated games in Italian football’s second tier.
His battle with United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey will be one to keep an eye on. Mario Balotelli talks with Alessio Cerci during a training session with the Italian national squad