Milan's Alexander Merkel Will Play For Germany

Agent Arthur Beck has confirmed Alexander Merkel's intent to play for Germany.
Multi-national Milan starlet Alexander Merkel has made up his mind as to which country he will represent internationally. The midfielder, who was born in Kazakhstan to Russian parents of German ancestry, has decided to play for Germany, where he spent the majority of his youth.

"For Kazakhstan, Alexander will not play; for Russia also no. He will play for Germany," his agent, Arthur Beck told Express.

Merkel, who moved to Milan in 2009 after spending most of his youth at Stuttgart, has featured for the German youth national teams at U-15 to U-19 level. He made a breakthrough in 2010, and in January this year scored his first goal for Milan in a 3-0 win over Bari in the Coppa Italia.

In the autumn, there was speculation over his potential call-up to play for Belarus, but the player himself scuppered the rumours in December. He appears not to have changed his mind since.