Sheinbaum invites “Merlin Duck” and his family, the World Cup bird that went viral, to the morning conference
The Mexican president assured that the family of "Merlin Duck" will receive support from the government in addition to being registered as a trademark.
The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, had “Merlin Duck” and his family as a special guest at the morning conference, the World Cup bird that went viral after wearing the Mexican national team shirt and walking through the streets of Mexico City.
"We decided to invite Karla, Carlos, Cristian and Merlin, here in the morning, everyone already knows that Merlin practically became the mascot of the World Cup and since we are, it is a matter of humanism, of knowing the family, who they are, their problems, and obviously the bond we establish is humanistic," he said.
The Mexican president announced that Merlín's family will receive help through the social programs offered by the Mexican government with the aim of improving their quality of life.
"Karla has talked to us about different topics about the life they lead and of course we are going to help them so that this fame they have acquired, which through us, always translates into improvement in their quality of life, and what is incredible is that many Mexican families always get ahead honestly, working hard, and well, what we have to do is help like we do in the Mexican government. Wellness programs are that, about support, help, not leaving anyone behind," he said.
"What we want is for them to know the people, Merlin too, Merlin is already very famous, but the family is the one who is taking care of and making Mexico a great country like the millions of Mexican families who work every day," he said.
Mrs. Karla Gómez, who is Pato Merlín's guardian, and who was accompanied by her two sons Carlos and Cristian, said she felt very honored by the invitation that President Sheinbaum made her.
“We feel very honored to be here with the president, it is an honor for us to be in front of you, and for the whole world to know what the beautiful part of Mexico is, which I feel is for this reason that we have become so viral because they have seen a working family, a family that gets up every day to go for that livelihood to support a family,” he commented.
"I think the world, that's why we have our eyes there, because they are seeing that beautiful part as the president said, that small part of what we really are. We are not that part that they say are deaths, that they are difficult things, we are the working part, we are that part of the good family, the Mexican family," said Karla.
The viral adventure of “Merlin Duck” and his family began on the day of the match between Mexico vs South Africa, on June 11, when videos on social networks showed the bird wearing the Mexican national team shirt following Mrs. Karla and one of her children when they were selling bottles of water on Juárez Avenue and Paseo de la Reforma, in Mexico City.
“We are working on the street, we are sellers, and he (Cristian) helps me a lot with carrying packages, he helps sell with clients, and since Merlín is the boss of the little business we have, he is the one who goes behind us supervising that we are working and that we do it correctly,” Karla said.
The virality of “Merlin Duck” was so great worldwide that commercial brands began to use his image to promote their products as an unofficial mascot of the World Cup, in addition to FIFA placing a scarf on his chest where he was named the official ambassador of Mexico City.
“In this #FIFAWorldCup, Merlín becomes the official ambassador of our Host City Mexico City,” FIFA said on its social networks.
Given this virality and to avoid image abuse by businesses and companies, the Merlin Duck will be registered this Monday as a trademark before the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, IMPI.
"Yes, we are doing the registration, it is going to be done today, it is going to be registered, and the care that is given to Merlin is to give him a good diet, he eats special food for duck, we also give him vegetables, we give him fruit and proteins that are essential for his feathers, we give him live charales in his water and we also give him crickets, and also on Sundays he eats a taco of carnitas, because that is what he does. Greetings to the man who gives it to him," said Karla.

