Former Arsenal midfielder Fran Mérida looks set to sign for Brazilian Serie A side Atlético Paranaense after seeing his career stall in Spain.
Mérida, 22, is reported to have agreed a one-year contract with the Curitiba-based club who were promoted to the Brazilian top flight last season.
The former Spanish youth international moved to Arsenal aged 15 from Barcelona and was quickly dubbed the “new Cesc Fabregas” at the Emirates.
However, he failed to break into the Arsenal first team and became disillusioned by his lack of chances under Arsene Wenger which lead him to turn down the club’s offer of a new contract in 2010 and he moved back to Spain with Atlético Madrid.
Despite making a promising start to life in Madrid, Mérida lost his first team place and was sent out on loan to Portuguese club Braga in 2011. On return to Atlético he was told he was no longer needed and last summer he moved to second division team Hércules.
Source: Lancenet!
