The thriller surrounding whether or not New York Metropolis FC star Nicolás Fernández Mercau needed out of the membership continued a day after a report surfaced indicating he had requested a switch.
NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen sidestepped a query from The Submit in regards to the report after the membership’s 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday night time, directing questions in regards to the switch window to sporting director .
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Wednesday’s match was the membership’s first because the World Cup break got here to an finish and since journalist on Tuesday that Fernández Mercau instructed New York Metropolis FC he needed a switch out of the Large Apple.
In the identical report, it was mentioned that NYCFC had rejected a bid from one other membership for Fernández Mercau value $18 million, and that call led to the star striker deciding he doesn’t wish to renew his contract with the MLS aspect.
Columbus Crew midfielder Sekou Bangoura (17) falls whereas defended by New York Metropolis Soccer Membership midfielder Nicolas Fernandez (7) through the first half at ScottsMiracle-Gro Subject on July 22, 2026. Barbara Perenic-Imagn Pictures
It was by no means specified which league or membership had made the supply for the NYCFC star.
Fernández Mercau was introduced in final summer time through the switch window and is underneath contract via 2029.
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Whereas Jansen didn’t handle the report instantly, he pointed to Fernández Mercau’s efficiency towards Columbus to convey the place the participant’s mindset was at.
“To start with, in the event you take a look at the efficiency from Nico inside the staff he was enjoying as we speak – which has been his staff for over a 12 months now – you’ll be able to see the place his thoughts is at,” Jansen mentioned. “He had an amazing efficiency, a big impact on as we speak’s sport. Additionally, you see a participant that’s performing for and along with his staff with loads of vitality, and that’s what he’s speculated to do.”
Fernández Mercau prolonged his goal-scoring methods, opening the scoring for New York Metropolis FC within the twenty eighth minute on a penalty kick.
It marked his eleventh objective of the MLS season and stored him within the prime 10 in league objective scoring. Fernández Mercau has now scored in 4 of his final 5 common season matches.
His success this season had already drawn , when it was rumored that Portuguese golf equipment Sporting CP and SL Benfica have been eager about Fernández Mercau.
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On the time, Jansen mentioned that he was “not conscious if there’s any curiosity” within the proficient participant, however didn’t categorical shock that he could be getting appears to be like from different golf equipment.
He reiterated that time on Wednesday.
“He’s an incredible participant, so for excellent gamers with loads of high quality, there will probably be curiosity on a regular basis,” the New York Metropolis FC coach mentioned. “So that’s one thing we have now to get used to apparently, and we’ll take care of it like we at all times do.”