According to reports in Mexico, Newcastle United will turn down the chance to sign Santiago Munoz on a permanent deal.
This comes from Mexican outlet Diario Record, who claim that the forward will return to parent club Santos Laguna in the new year following an 18-month stint on Tyneside.
Last summer, the 20-year-old arrived on an initial loan deal running until December 2022, but it seems we’ll pass up on our ‘option to buy’ after he struggled to make any major impact within our U23s.
Injuries haven’t helped, but Munoz has only managed one goal in nine Premier League 2 appearances, with his only outing for the senior side coming in the closing stages of our pre-season clash with Athletic Bilbao in July.
Some supporters wondered if his arrival – the last of the Mike Ashley era – was simply a publicity stunt by the club, with his name being very similar to the main character of the movie ‘Goal!’ Santiago Munez.
It’s unfortunate for both parties that there was no Hollywood ending for the young playmaker, but at such a young age there is still plenty of time for Munoz to make his European dream come true.
