Tiago Pinto has revealed his interest in becoming the next sporting director at Newcastle United following Dan Ashworth’s exit.
During an exclusive interview with the i’s Mark Douglas, the 39-year-old has confirmed his interest in speaking to Newcastle chiefs, describing us as a “big club” with “huge potential” following the arrival of Saudi investment.
Pinto worked as Benfica’s director of football from 2017 to 2020 before working alongside Jose Mourinho at Roma, who he left last month after his fellow countryman and close ally was sacked by the Serie A side.
After telling iNews that the Premier League is his “dream” destination, he had this to say when asked about links with the vacant position at St James’ Park:
“If a big club like Newcastle asks to speak to you, of course you’re interested”, he said.
“I know the club’s story very well because Sir Bobby Robson was a big personality in Portugal and we associated him with Newcastle. I followed the club because of that passion.
“The work the new ownership has done has been very impressive – with a clever strategy they’ve come from a relegation fight to the Champions League so there’s huge potential at Newcastle.
“I don’t know if the interest is true or not but who would say no to a project like that?”
BREAKING 🚨 Tiago Pinto is interested in replacing Dan Ashworth at Newcastle
⚽️ Exclusive by @MsiDouglas #NUFC https://t.co/zOg3v49KGW
— i sport (@iPaperSport) March 11, 2024
The Mail’s Craig Hope revealed last week that Pinto was one of four names currently under consideration at Newcastle, with the club bringing in world renowned consultants Odgers Berndtson to find a new sporting director.
**** no worst candidate of all the ones linked.
Personally I’d rather see Nickson promoted the transfers we completed with him after the take over were excellent.
He also works really well with the scouting department, Howe and the board.
Then just move Andy Howe up to head of recruitment.
Porkpie(Quote)
If Nickson is the answer to our Sporting Director search and Andy Howe is the answer to our top recruitment role I’d love to knw the questions.
toonarden(Quote)
Both here before Ashworth and our transfer windows before he came were exceptional the transfer window that failed in a sense was the Ashworth window.
So the question would be who had better transfer windows than the highly rated much sort after guy on his way to Man U.
Sometimes rewarding someone for doing a excellent job over a number of years is better than getting in the next flavour of the month, oh and Pinto is definitely not the fucking answer that’s for sure.
Porkpie(Quote)