Record signing Joelinton has opened up about his struggles this season following his £40m move from Hoffenheim – also playing down claims he could look for a NUFC escape route.
The Brazilian has managed just one solitary league goal since his switch and has had to endure criticism from Toon supporters for his displays so far in a black-and-White shirt.
Despite his goal drought, he is remaining confident that his fortunes will change in an exclusive interview with Goal Brazil – which also sees him open up about his anxiety following a tough first season in England:
“I think that for any striker, going a while without scoring is bad. It leaves us with great anxiety,”
“But I think it’s the beginning of my journey in English football and I’m not used to being shaken by a bad moment.
“I seek strength to train, improve and return to the games to score goals and help Newcastle win games. We always have to improve, seek evolution.
“It’s a league with great teams and excellent players and coaches, so the level is very high.
“I know that I’m prepared for this and I train every day to get better and be ready for the games I play.”
He has been linked with a quick-fire move away from Tyneside in recent times, with clubs in Turkey rumoured to be interested in his services on loan.
However, Joelinton has squashed talk of an exit and claims he is ‘very happy’ with life at Newcastle and has much more to give following his big money move from Germany last summer:
“I don’t usually get involved in rumours, negotiations.
“This is usually in the hands of the club and my agents so that I can stay focused on my work, on my goals,”
“Newcastle were the club that believed in me, who opened the doors of the Premier League for me, and made a big investment in signing me.
“I don’t like to plan the future too much; I prefer to live in the present.
“Today, I say that I’m very happy here at the club and that I still want to give a lot of joy to the Newcastle fans, having a good Premier League season and, who knows, taking the club into Europe.“
It appears that next season could be make or break for the striker as far as his Premier League career is concerned.
Jonjo Shelvey has leaped to the Brazilians defence in recent weeks to praise the forwards talent, insisting that he is a talent in training and will come good in a Newcastle shirt.
Let’s hope so, because if this season has been anything to go by, then Joelinton could end up becoming our biggest ever waste of money…
