On the eve of the Finalissima against the Argentine National Team and with the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada just around the corner, the Spanish national team received the tough news that both Samu Omorodion and Mikel Merino will be unavailable for Luis De La Fuente.
The forward’s injury occurred during the Porto vs. Sporting match last Monday. There, according to his club, the striker “suffered a sprain in his right knee with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.” In light of this situation, the Dragons reported that the player would undergo further evaluations, but the truth is he will be sidelined for several months.
Samu had been regularly called up by De La Fuente, who had him in his plans for the World Cup. In the current season, he scored 13 goals in 20 matches, and his pace suggested he would surpass the 19 goals he achieved last season. With La Roja, he had played four matches and was part of the squad that competed in the Nations League Final Four.
Thus, with the confirmation of his injury, the 21-year-old forward will be a loss for the Spanish team ahead of the Finalissima against Argentina on March 27 in Qatar, and the start of the 2026 World Cup on June 11.
As for Merino, last Monday he successfully underwent surgery for a foot fracture he suffered in the 3-2 defeat against Manchester United, a recovery that will take several months, at least four, seriously jeopardizing his participation in the World Cup. Of course, he will not be present against the Albiceleste in Doha.
In the current season, the Basque player has accumulated six goals and three assists in 33 appearances with the Gunners, and he has already participated in 41 matches with the national team, scoring ten times.