Changan Podcast: Alexander Merkel on his childhood in Almaty, Ibrahimović and playing in the Middle East

The new episode of Changan Podcast features Astana midfielder and 2010/11 Italian champion Alexander Merkel.

During a late-night drive with Temirlan Orynbayev, Merkel spoke openly about his childhood in Almaty, the challenges of adapting to life in Italy as a teenager, suffering a cruciate ligament tear at a crucial stage of his career, and much more.

Published: 21 September 2026

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Changan Podcast: Alexander Merkel on his childhood in Almaty, Ibrahimović and playing in the Middle East

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