Salomon Rondon has given an interview to George Caulkin of The Athletic, and if you weren’t missing him enough already, then the Venezuelan striker’s comments about our club, our city and how much he wanted to stay are surely going to gripe at your heartstrings.
If they don’t, think about Joelinton hitting a shot against his own leg last Sunday at the Emirates from 6 yards out.
Read his comments below:
“It’s about decisions and it wasn’t my decision
“If Newcastle had offered me a deal, if they’d said ‘Do you want to stay here?’, then of course I would have stayed.
“To be honest, last season was the best I’ve ever had. Not just because I scored goals, but because everything around me was so right, from the school of my children, to the city, the people, my family being happy.
“I was working really hard in every training session to be in the team and I did everything properly for that. I was playing. Everything was perfect.
“If Newcastle made me the offer, I’d definitely come back!”
Last season’s top goal scorer and player of the year was available for just £16.6m…..that’s all we needed to pay to make his move permanent from West Brom after a brilliant loan spell.
Of course we have to remember that being 30 years of age means you aren’t worth that kind money anymore in the eyes of Lee Charnley and Mike Ashley. They’d sooner sign a 22 year old and play him out of position (although they demanded £20m for Dwight Gayle last summer who is only a couple of months older).
It’s almost like they ignored the advice of a football expert….anyway.
Rondon is not a perfect striker, and he had a slow start to his Newcastle career after being chastised at WBA and left in no man’s land while we dawdled on the deal last summer.
However his performances towards the back end of last season were excellent. His role at the centre of the “3 amigos” was crucial as were his 11 goals. His work rate, hold up play and awareness of players around him are a class above anything we have now, and from his comments you can tell he “got it” about Newcastle United as many people have said.
While I still think there is a player in Joelinton, the club’s decision to not Rondon’s buy out clause is up there with Ashley’s stupidest.
