Initially, the contract was for five years, but Merino struggled to accommodate himself with the change in climate and the Finnish language.
[2] He also represented FC Jazz in 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup as the club played against Gloria Bistriţa and Paris Saint-Germain.
His dribbling skills quickly made him a fan favourite, but his lack of consistency saw him transfer to San Salvador FC for the Apertura 2001.
He was arguably the team's driving force in attack and helped them win the Clausura 2003 title, scoring one of their three goals at the final against Luis Ángel Firpo.
This move not only meant a fresh start for Merino, but also saw him join the list of a select few players that have played for what are considered the "Big Four" clubs in the country (that being Alianza FC, Luis Ángel Firpo, FAS and Águila).
He made his debut for the Cuscatlecos in a July 2004 friendly match against Guatemala and has earned a total of 20 caps, scoring 1 goal.