If you listened carefully, you could hear the sound of Moussa Sissoko’s heart breaking.
Unlike Andros Townsend, the French international is looking more and more likely to stay on Tyneside this summer after Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane observed:
We are not going to signings for the sake of signings
Marca, the Spanish football daily, reports that their contacts inside the Bernabeu stated that Moussa Sissoko is not nor has he ever been, a transfer target this summer. The club is still reeling from losing out to Manchester United on the Paul Pogba deal, particularly as they had wined and dined his agent, Mino Raiola, extensively.
When Moussa told the BBC World Service that he hoped supporters would understand his situation, I don’t think he had in mind that he might be staying at St James Park this season. A flurry of newspaper reports saw him linked with Arsenal, Liverpool, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. All he is left with now is egg on his face.
If a deal is to happen, Rafa has made it quite clear an offer has to come in sooner rather than later. A deadline day cheeky bid won’t be entertained with Benitez clear it has to meet Newcastle’s valuation.
All of which might make things a little bit awkward for Moussa. Let’s see how good a carpenter he is; there are a lot of bridges to be rebuilt.
