Forgotten full-back Achraf Lazaar says he is ‘only thinking of Newcastle’ ahead of his return to pre-season training this week, suggesting he has no plans to leave this summer.
He may not have been given a proper chance in the side and did arrive as a talented Serie A left-back, but this is hardly the inspiring news we desperately wanted to hear, is it?
Here’s what the Moroccan international has had to say about his future when speaking to Italian paper Calciomercato:
“I have finished my holidays and now I go back to Newcastle (for pre-season).
“In the coming days, I will start training for the new season.
“Will I go back to Italy? Now there is nothing.
“Genoa? There was a concrete interest but in the past.”
“I think only of Newcastle.“
Genoa are mentioned as he looked set to join them on loan on more than one occasion since the summer of 2017, however it looks like that ship has sailed.
He made just a handful of starts under Benitez and was training with the reserves at one stage – despite the fact he signed him on a five-year deal from Serie A three years ago – so the fact Rafa has gone will no doubt make him feel a second chance is now very possible under any new manager.
Sheffield Wednesday fans sung his praises during his loan spell over the second half of last season, however this is anything but the major boost we needed to hear right now.
‘Like a new signing’.
