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Arsenal youngster joins Spanish giants
Arsenal, 10:17, January 5, 2010 ,
Arsenal youngster Fran Merida is thought to have snubbed a new deal with the Gunners in favour of signing for Atletico Madrid.
Reports from Spain on Wednesday indicate that the 19-year-old has decided to sign a five-year deal with the La Liga side rather than stay at the Emirates Stadium.
The Spaniard had initially agreed a new five-year contract with Arsenal towards the end of last year but never put pen-to-paper on the deal and will now join up with Atletico in the summer, the club he has supported all his life.
Merida came to north London as a 16-year-old protege after quitting the Barcelona youth system and was tipped to make as big an impact as Cesc Fabregas had done when he left the Nou Camp.
However, Merida has failed to establish himself in the first team, making just a handful of appearances, and will now return to Spain when his contract expires at the end of the season.