Newcastle United signed Mikel Merino from Borussia Dortmund during the summer transfer window.
Merino was expecting English people to be cold, but he has been given a hero’s welcome to Tyneside.
The Spaniard says that he is repeatedly stopped on the streets by Newcastle fans, who have been nothing but friendly with him since he arrived.
And Merino says that he already feels completely at home in the North East.
“I’m really happy with the people in Newcastle, they’re very kind, always trying to help you,” he said. “I didn’t expect that. I thought English people would be cold, dry and not kind but I was wrong and I’m happy about it. I didn’t expect all the laughter and jokes you have here.
“There’s much more to do in Newcastle than in Dortmund. I feel at home here.”
Merino has made a brilliant start to life at Newcastle, since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window, and is already playing a key role for Rafael Benitez’s side.
Newcastle have also already paid £8.5 million (Guardian) to make the 21-year-old’s loan move a permanent one.
Merino went some way to repaying the faith that Benitez has shown in him so far by scoring the winner for Newcastle in their last match against Crystal Palace.
The Spanish youth international could now be in line to start the Magpies’ next match, which comes against Burnley at Turf Moor on Monday evening.
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