Diego Carlos has finally spoken out about Newcastle United’s interest that almost saw him swap Sevilla for St James’ Park last month.
Despite Sky Sports claiming that the Brazilian handed in a transfer request in the middle of January to force through a move, the player himself says he always stayed ‘calm’ and respected the contract he had in place with the La Liga side.
That said, Carlos does suggest that he would have been open to joining this new project at Newcastle United had the two clubs ‘reached an agreement’ over a fee – which was said to be the sticking point as Sevilla demanded a reported £40m.
Speaking to local outlet ABC Sevilla, here’s everything the 28-year-old had to say about the January saga that ended in him staying in Spain:
Carlos on Newcastle United:
“We know about the history of Newcastle, it is a team that is fighting not to drop out of the Premier League.
“They are building a project with the billionaire, who has bought them, who wants to make [them] a well-known club in a few years, but here we are very well classified and we play one of the best leagues in the world, against great teams.
“Sevilla have a very strong name around the world, the team is doing well… I talked to Monchi and told him to be calm, that if they want me here, I’m going to do my best because I owe the club a lot.
“We came to an agreement that I would stay.”
Carlos on his reaction to the January rumours and Sevilla’s decision to keep him:
“I was always very calm, I have a commitment, my contract here at Sevilla.
“Nothing ever happened in my head nor did I go crazy with the situation. With everything that was talked about, I was working and competing, I think I did well.
“I told the coach that he could safely count on me because my head was at Sevilla, it is a club that opened doors for me and to them, I will be grateful all my life.
“At Sevilla, I am growing every day, being a more mature and confident player.”
Carlos on whether it was difficult to be denied a ‘drastic’ rise in salary:
“I was very calm, I spoke directly with my agent and I didn’t want to hear anything that wasn’t true.
“For those things there were trustworthy people who do that job.
“If they reached an agreement and it turned out to be positive for me, fine, but since nothing concrete came to me that could make me leave Sevilla, at all times I was calm.
“I feel very good at the club, I’m very happy to be here. I will continue to do my best because football is like that, today you are there and tomorrow you are not, and now I am, so we will see what will happen.”
