Álvaro Merino, the Spanish centre half, was born and raised in the bustling suburb of Vallecas in Madrid. He's a tough-tackling defender who enjoys nothing more than disrupting opposition play. He's not afraid to put his body on the line for his team and can often be seen sliding into tackles. When he's not on the pitch, Merino is an avid karting enthusiast and has his own high-powered kart which he loves to take for a spin. He also plays Mario Kart some days after training with Thiago Barros. His favourite food is the francesinha, a sandwich made with ham, sausage, and steak covered in melted cheese and a tomato-based sauce. In the mornings, Merino likes to sit on his balcony with a cup of coffee and catch up on the news on his phone.