Speculation on Merino ‘propaganda’
atmosphere in the ground that is most important to us.
“In the coming weeks we are looking forward to having our normal regular conversations with the club contacts we have, as has been the case for the last two years.
“Our aim from now until the end of the season is simple – to get behind Rafa and the team as they fight to stay in the Premier League.”
While some are calling for protests against the ownership, it’s worth pointing out that the manager and most supporters believe unity is the best way forward given the club’s perilous Premier League position.
And this is a good move by the group, who want to keep people unified and whose entire purpose is to create a supportive atmosphere for the team.
Given his constant calls for unity, no doubt the Spaniard will approve. A bit of constructive ambiguity in the message has allowed them to make a point and set the agenda without losing the purpose of the group, which was originally the Gallowgate Flags before a new group of volunteers offered to pour their energy into it.
Indeed, on Friday, Benitez bristled at attempts to make him criticise the club when asked about the banner.
“A lot of people are expecting me to criticise the club or anyone,” he said. “I’m trying to do my best for the team and the club and have the players thinking about football. I just try to get the team ready and do the best for the club, (and get the) players thinking just about football. I don’t have to be involved in the polemic.”
This smart new statement captures the mood of a club and fanbase in limbo but who are unified by one thing: a desperation to stay in the Premier League this season. ONE of the strangest Newcastle United transfer stories during the January transfer window was Mikel Merino being strongly linked with a mid-season move to Athletic Bilbao.
The 21-year-old only signed for the Magpies last summer on an initial loan move which became a permanent £7m deal in October.
But well-connected journalists in Bilbao were adamant the Spain Under-21 international could return to his homeland during the January window – despite Rafa Benitez stressing that would not be the case.
Newcastle held off strong competition from Bilbao in order to sign Merino during the summer, with the Spanish club also approaching Borussia Dortmund about the midfielder’s availability.
Sources at St James’ Park believe the reports suggesting Merino could leave Tyneside in mid-season were mainly propaganda-driven by the Basque club.
Bilbao sold defender Aymeric Laporte to Manchester City for £57m, so the Spanish side were flush with cash – and their support base expected some of that money to be reinvested in new signings.
Given that Bilbao operate a strict transfer policy whereby they can only recruit players of a Basque origin, there is only a small pool of players who they can sign. Merino is from Pamplona and he is arguably the biggest-name Basque player who appeared to be attainable last month.
Sources at Newcastle believe Bilbao were keen to make it seem as if they were close to signing Merino in order to placate their fanbase, but stressed the midfielder was never close to leaving.
Merino has struggled to regain full fitness since suffering a lower-back injury in October.
He has started just one Premier League game in 2018 so far, but Benitez hopes the Spaniard will regain his best form soon enough.
“No, it’s just a case of getting back to his perfect match fitness. That’s it,” Benitez said of Merino’s fitness.