Barcelona youth prodigy tipped to be Cesc Fabregas’ successor at Arsenal retires at 34

Former Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida has retired from football aged 34.

Merida left Barcelona’s academy to sign for Arsenal after he turned 17 in 2007 and was tipped to be Cesc Fabregas’ long-term successor in midfield.

However, the Spaniard failed to make an impact in Arsene Wenger’s side and just three years later he joined Atletico Madrid on a free transfer.

Merida spent just two seasons with Atletico before joining Portuguese side Braga in 2011.

The midfielder also had spells in Spain with Hercules, Huesca, Osasuna and Espanyol, spent just over a year in Brazil with Atletico Paranaense and 16 months in China with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger.

Merida ended his playing career playing for CD Lugo in the Spanish third tier.

’19 years ago I left home in pursuit of my dream and, just today, 17 years ago, I achieved it, on September 25, 2007. I have been privileged to have been able to live so many experiences thanks to the ball,’ Merida wrote on Instagram.

‘To all the people I have crossed paths with during these years in all the clubs, thank you very much.

‘I especially want to remember my parents, thank you for always letting me be myself and being an unconditional support, also to my sister Sara, for accompanying me to play the best games in the streets of the neighborhood.

‘To Antonio Lopez, for looking after me like a brother, always being honest with me and helping me get up in my worst moment. To my wife Vanesa, for being the pillar of my life together with our daughters. And to you Grandpa, we did it. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.’

Speaking in 2015, Merida admitted that his decision to leave Arsenal was a ‘mistake’.

‘I was impatient, I wanted to play more,’ Merida said.

‘Levante wanted me for one season and I was going to sign for them. I actually packed my clothes and went with Arsenal to play against Valencia. I was going to stay in the city and join Levante when Wenger called me and said: ‘Please stay, you will get more chances and if you do well you can break into the first-team’. He changed my mind, I went back to London.

‘It was a mistake, I wasn’t patient. I realise that now, but I’ve never been a patient person.

‘The club told me I was going to be part of the first-team squad, I was delighted.

‘I changed for the first-team dressing room. I played a few games in the Premier League and the League Cup. I was getting close. But at the end of the season I had an offer from Atletico Madrid. Even though I’m from Barcelona, I actually supported Atletico Madrid as a kid because I wanted to be different. That double winning team in 1996 was another reason.

‘I thought hard about the offer. They offered me a four-year contract and I still felt that I wasn’t going to play every week at Arsenal. I said goodbye.’

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