The 20-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal at St James’ Park and becomes United’s fourth signing of the January transfer window following the recent additions of Mathieu Debuchy, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Yoan Gouffran.
The fee, although officially undisclosed, is believed to be in the region of £3 million although Haidara is expected to be used as cover for Davide Santon first and foremost with an eye on him developing for the future. Not exactly a “development squad” player as such, more of a backup player who can step in. Hopefully anyway…
Haidara has represented France at under-19, under-20 and under-21 level and has already notched up over 50 competitive appearances in club football which isn’t bad for a 20-year-old. He will wear the number 19 shirt recently vacated by Demba Ba.
Speaking to the club website, Haidara admitted it was the desire of United to sign the youngster which helped sway the decision.
“It was the desire of the club to sign me up which was the most important factor. It was nothing to do with the league position,” Massadio revealed.
“It was really all about the club’s desire and willingness to sign me up. Also, I like the club’s ambition to strengthen the whole team so we can improve our league position. That’s what appealed to me so I didn’t hesitate,” he added.
Meanwhile, as has become customary, Alan Pardew also had his say on the signing.
“Massadio is very highly-thought of in France and he’s somebody who our scouting team have been greatly impressed by,” said Pardew.
He added: “At the age of 20, he will only continue to get better but he’s already played a lot of games in his country’s top division and represented France at under-19, under-20 and under-21 level. He’s strong and quick and we’re looking forward to seeing him develop here.”
Meanwhile, in other transfer news, it seems as though Moussa Sissoko is on his way to Newcastle after his current club revealed on their website that a deal had been agreed for this transfer window and not in the summer as had been suggested by some.
He is apparently on his way to Newcastle as we speak and a deal is expected to be announced tomorrow with a fee being mentioned of £1.8 million which isn’t too bad for a player who as recently as one year ago was being touted around at values upwards of £15 million.
Meanwhile, on Twitter, one of those French gadgies that has called most things right this window has revealed that the president of Bastia has received a €3 million offer from Newcastle for their attacking midfielder Florian Thauvin which he is considering.
With all these signings it’s becoming like a French football advent calender!
Awesomesauce
funkyjesus(Quote)
Never seen so many article popped out so quickly on here Toonsy. 😉
Andymag(Quote)
Very good news indeed…
Newkie(Quote)
he looks dreamier than dreamboat 😯 so wor lass reckons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2YhCdxwpxw
oooh la la
mark(Quote)
we must be selling someone. Anita, Sissoko and Tiote will battle for one position, obviously if Gosling gets injured 😛
mark(Quote)
TOONSY must be a nice change to write some good news for a change,but what will pardew say now?he called Wenger something rotten for having to many players from France in the club,gob *****
icedog(Quote)
Mark 😆
Poor Gosling. Did we sign him to 5 1/2 years as well?…. 😯
Newkie(Quote)
It’s getting a bit mental with all these Frenchies like.
How’s this gona affect us and the ‘homegrown’ ruling? 😕
Must admit, as pleased as I am with the new (and soon to be) signings, I wouldn’t mind a few English players.
No pleasing some people eh.
We’ll need a French manager soon!
….Deschamps anyone? 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
@Newkie
aye, think so m9.
He was a canny investment at the time, just injury prone already for such a young age.
mark(Quote)
Ice – Yeah he did but that was seven years ago. Should it be dragged back up? Other people arebsayong stuff about it right now yet don’t get half the **** Pardew gets.
toonsy(Quote)
Has anyone else noted that Pardew was blathering on and had something to say EVERY DAY after the Reading debacle. However, since the new signings started ching chinging up he’s been unusually quiet….. hhhmmmm… 😕
Munich Mag(Quote)
I wonder what is the largest number of simultaneous debutants in one team in the EPL ? Who is likely to go straight into the team ? MYM and YG at least I would imagine.
Has Danny Simpson left yet ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
TOONSY I agree 100%its just in his type of job keeping your gob shut and never call other clubs it comes back and bites your *** lol
icedog(Quote)
(THIS IS A GOVERNMENT HEALTH WARNING. THIS POSTER IS LIABLE TO DISAGREE WITH YOUR POINT OF VIEW. ONLY ENGAGE IF YOU AREN’T SENSITIVE AND DON’T TAKE HISSY FITS)
I cannit wait to gan to France this year in my touring caravan.
I’m currently painted it black n white stripes and incorporating the French flag.
I’m ganna be treat like a king!! Oooh la la! 😛 😛
Troy Stavers(Quote)
Rods – Im with you there shame they not english 😕
However if we get old carroll back that would be lovely 😀
Sissoko though thats just silly ashley must be rubbing his hands at the resale value of that lot 😎
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Troy – A lot of the French people I speak to about football do know about us now. They’ll ask who I support and when I say Newcastle they always rattle off a couple of names. We’re on the TV over there a lot more these days.
Just do me a favour and keep your touring caravan out of my way 😉
toonsy(Quote)
There is a storey going round that Big Dave is coming over to SJP to chant.for jabba
icedog(Quote)
Ice – True enough. I think we all have something that can come back and haunt us now and again. I’m waiting for the CSA to chase me up for some old seeds 😯
Well I’m not not that I know of anyway but it wouldn’t surprise me 😆
toonsy(Quote)
MM, I was wondering about Simpson earlier. Surely it’ll be difficult him leaving this window as he’s injured until next month(?) and he’s out of contract in the summer.
I don’t think he’s publicy stated he wants to leave(?) Although I know the press have been blathering on about him for the last year – even moreso now he’s started making seeing that tart from X Facta.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Sure we won’t sign ANYONE in January .. We will get kuqi and heskey… Sissoko will make it 5 players in January with us still involved in business!! To all who said we won’t get any1 and we won’t spend I’m happy say … I Told You So
John(Quote)
You have to give Ashley credit for how quickly he has moved this window. At first glance the club seem to have done some good deals without breaking the bank. I’m still a bit peturbed why Wenger hasn’t tried to sign them if they were any good. There again, maybe he tried but the lure of Cabaye and the toon revolution was too strong ?
Is there any danger of too many Frenchies upsetting the morale amongst the rest ?
Munich Mag(Quote)
Geet canny like
Reet, when’s the Villa game? 😀
Moreno(Quote)
Rodz@19, he has a knackered toe I believe so wouldn’t be available anyway. Wasn’t there a rumour about QPR and Reading doing the rounds ? It makes sense for him to sit tight until the end of the season.
I think Simmo never let the club down, and until the last 4-5 games always gave 100%. Good luck to the lad I say..
Munich Mag(Quote)
Central midfield…Cabaye, Tiote, Sissoko, Anita 😯 Hell’s Bells.
Selection headache for the first time this season. Gives so many more option of tactics. Think we’ll see a few long serving departures in the summer too, absolutely new look Newcastle on the cards in the very near future.
Moreno(Quote)
…let’s hope they all live up to expectations eh Liam. 😎
My top 6 is bet with the bookies is back on! 😆
HTL
Rodzilla(Quote)
Cabaye to Arsenal for 12 million 😯
Munich Mag(Quote)
MM, yeah I heard Fulham too. I really hope he stays, personally. Don’t forget we had the same ***** with Steven Taylor’s contract not too long ago. Mind you, he never had his fingers in any pies doon sooth! 😯 😮
Rodzilla(Quote)
Ice@17 😆
Not a chance!
Newkie(Quote)
MM@26 😆
…it’s all been a big ruse! Now it makes sense! 😯
Wenger has let us buy all our Gallic chums in return for us selling him Cabaye! The numbers add up nicely too! 12m out, 12m. 😆
Rodzilla(Quote)
cant beleive we have got Sissoko for 2 million 😯
Alex(Quote)
where is hitman he’s never been on for a good while,maybe in shock
icedog(Quote)
ROD no MM hates good news,always been one for spoiling a party lol
icedog(Quote)
Rodz I reckon Danny boy is really worried bringing his new hen up to the toon in case one of wor handsome new french lads puts a half-nelson on her 🙂 Maybe he’ll be tempted to leave before the end of the January window 😎
Munich Mag(Quote)
I reckon we should snap that young Charlie Morgan up for the rest of our home games. Great at holding the ball up.
Rodzilla(Quote)
Icedog, you got me sussed matey… 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
We are really helping the french national team out eh?
Debuchy, Mbwia, Hiadara
Cabaye, Sissoko, HBA,!!
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
frogs on the Tyne are mine all mine lol
icedog(Quote)
Lets just hope we dont get invaded 😎
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
EVEN if we get relegated cashley has signed them up to massive deals.
They aint going for a million in the summer 😕
Clever mr ashley
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Where is Richie? Not seen him for ages???
toonsy(Quote)
MM went to your old stomping ground in the west-end just to dig the the ***** up about you,but haven’t got that much memory on three laptop to fit it all on lol
icedog(Quote)
Liam, we have a first 11 made up from internationals by my reckoning…… but we’re still in the brown stuff at the moment 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
Good sell on value I’d guess, Liam. Definitely will be a case of once bitten on the old contract clause scenario too, hopefully.
…just hope Gouffran isn’t another Guivarch. I know F all about him.
Rodzilla(Quote)
TOONSY Richie still watching his Mrs move home and subway have no internet lol
icedog(Quote)
Canny little window this like… 😯
Still would have liked a more secure striker but maybe that’s being greedy.
Stuart79(Quote)
Mm amazing isn’t it that reading can still beat us regardless.
Suggests that it’s the tactics etc that’s the problem? 😕
Liam southern toon(Quote)
Toonsy@40, I ain’t either. Mind you I’ve not been on much myself.
Do you know what impact all these garlic-munchers will have on our squad, with regards to the homegrown ruling? I think we skimmed it by the hairs on our arses last season(?)
Rodzilla(Quote)
I wonder if we had signed Remy would we have spent this same amount of money?
icedog(Quote)
@GFN_France: READ: Moussa Sissoko Interview for TFC: Full English transcript from Interview tweeted earlier: http://t.co/x7NqWBNu #Sissoko #NUFC #TFC
3hourswasted(Quote)
Icedog I once scored a hat trick kicking up the hill at Condy Road with a proper leather caser mate…. not bad for a 12 year old. That was pretty much the peak of my career though….apart from the lead on the roof of St Stephens church and stuff … 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Liam, we’ll see what Pardew can make of this bunch, I’m not holding my breath though. He must have something serious on Ashley though to get his wallet prised open like that.
In his defence I’ve always believed that Ashley would spend for the right player, and when the time is right. I still would like to see perhaps another striker through the door before the end of the window. There again maybe I’m being a bit picky 😳
Not too much activity this time round in the transfer market to be honest, though the window’s not closed yet. Zaha to Manure sems to be the next big move…
Munich Mag(Quote)
What I want to know is who is doing this transfer work now?
There was the rumour that Ashley was taking control and then a day or two later, we’ve had 3 consecutive days of new signings. Soooo….
Has Ashley taken the job himself or has he gave Llambias new guidelines to act on?
Also – are we getting all this now and then having to do with one signing per window for the next several years again?
funkyjesus(Quote)
MM small bloody world I trained on that same pitch every Sunday 10 till 3pm for a few years same type of ball,god it hurts when its wet,glad I was a winger and not the guy in middle that had to heed it lol
icedog(Quote)
The question is now, are people still questioning MA’s intentions for the club? I am sure he will have people to convince and I think it’s likely we’ll sell Tiote in the summer and bring in Remy for €5m when QPR are relegated.
Stuart79(Quote)
more so if it was the valve part oh ****
icedog(Quote)
MM, you’re not being picky at all. We’ve just replaced Ba with an unproven. We needed someone else upfront before Ba left.
I most definitely want more in. I’m not greedy, just want more attacking threat. We’re shored up defensively now, so far, but we’re still heavily reliant on Cabaye and Barfa to create chances at the other end.
Clean sheets mean nowt if we can’t do the business at the other end.
Rodzilla(Quote)
This is what Sissoko can do – fill yer boots 😀
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8is55APwpk&feature=youtu.be
3hourswasted(Quote)
Sissoko is landing at Newcastle airport at 2130
Stuart79(Quote)
Icedog, those casers were mental when they were clogged with mud 😕 If you could reach the edge of the box with a goal kick they made you captain I recall 😆 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
…be interesting to see where all these players fit in. They’re all pretty versatile like.
Rodzilla(Quote)
cheers STUART
icedog(Quote)
…still want another striker anyway. 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
We needed a striker and pards didn’t say gourffann was the man he had wanted all along.
Rod I’m with you think pards has his eye on bigger target.
Liam southern toon(Quote)
3Hours@57…Sissoko has got a few tricks up his sleeve, flippin heck 🙂
Munich Mag(Quote)
We need another striker for sure. There again Pardew said we need to be patient when it comes to getting a striker in.
Munich Mag(Quote)
…he might have brought Gouffran in primarily as a winger?
Rodzilla(Quote)
Okay, glad that we’ve burst into action, but am I alone in thinking we need another striker and another CB and that, despite all this, the squad is still a little thin?
This is much improved, but, like FJ, I’m wondering how well they’ve learned the lesson. I don’t want them spending heaps of cash all the time, but if it’s going to be feast or famine, that’s not satisfactory either, in my view.
If this turns into a more measured and gradual purchasing strategy, we’ll have to give much more credit. At present, this still stinks of desperation.
All credit for rectifying the errors, but the errors were still made and unforced… and could be made again.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
well the lad said pardew told him where he wants him to play in team,and said he can score goals so take your pick where he plays,but it is pardew we are talking about
icedog(Quote)
@davidmcrossan: One #nufc snippet that got missed outre-manche was SEN int Lamine Sané tweeting: “Don’t worry brother, I’m coming” to #Gouffran
@davidmcrossan: #Sané today tweeted #Bordeaux fans to say he’s proud to play for club, told Sud Ouest “for now, I am still here” #nufc #gouffran
3hourswasted(Quote)
LST
I wouldn’t rule out a move for either Van Wolfwinkle or S.De Jong. 🙂
Andymag(Quote)
Looking at those who have come in Debuchy, MYM, Sissoko; which of these players were available in the summer. Possibly Debuchy but that got messed about but I don’t think any of the others were.
Perhaps we were not prepared to buy lesser choices for more money in the summer but gambled that we would be able to get the players we wanted later. Now we have. How culpable is that?
premandup(Quote)
By the time Villa play us we will be massively strengthened. I reckon we could give them a right spanking.
The Kid(Quote)
Knowing full well how deceptive a youtube comp can be, gotta say, he looks very good on the ball. Hmm…
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
This shows how Ashley’s style is the ideal one – but it needed a bit of fine tuning.
At the end of the day, we’re still getting dirt cheap deals and transfer clauses and out of contracts jobs – but we’ve been a lot more aggressive and hasty in doing it. The only other deal like these was Marveaux.
I hope we keep this style – but maybe we’ve struck lucky that so many of our targets were all close to end of contract/issues with their club at the same time?
funkyjesus(Quote)
FSOTC – I think we defo need a CF, but with Colo staying and Saylor coming back to fitness I think we should be ok for a CB til the summer when I see us getting Douglas on a freebie, maybe Pieters on free as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)