He Newcastle UnitedEdit He decided in October 2021 to sell his soul. A historic club, anchored for many years in the management of the ‘rácano’ Michael Ashley, is in the hands of Saudi Arabia. A controversial decision, which put him in the spotlight of associations in favor of human rights and put the Newcastle as another attempt to wash the image of the Saudi regime. A few controversies that would quickly be overshadowed by the magpies’ investment and sporting successes.
Because there are no more questions in the press conference Eddie Howe about the dubious respect for freedoms in the Saudi country, since the choice of Saudi Arabia make friends in St. James’ Park, home of Newcastleand as it was commonly seen that the Saudi green and white dominated the club’s third kit last season.
He Newcastle went from strict Ashley, which at least kept the club out of debt, but without sporting success, in the prosperity of being considered the richest team in the world. And like night and day. In getting the howa technician promoted to Bournemouth from the English Fourth Division to the Premier League, and an initial investment of 130 million euros, with signings such as Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willockthe club escaped the relegation positions and began a total reconstruction.
More than 180 kilos in summer 2022
In the summer of 2022 came the big cost, more than 180 million euros to recruit Aleksander Isak, Anthony Gordon, Sven Botman, Matt Targett and Nick Pope. The Saudis did everything for the club to leave the years of fighting for relegation and jump to quality. What was unexpected was the hand of howa good coach, along with some well-measured additions, away from the frivolous spending of other clubs, will lead the club to fight for its first title in decades – the Carabao Cup lost with Manchester United – and qualify for the Champions League by in front of clubs like Tottenham Hotspur he Chelsea and the Liverpool.
The goal was more than achieved and the fans, people the club asked to stop coming out to matches dressed as sheikhs, out of respect for Saudi Arabia, were more than happy, leaving the issue of human rights to certainly at stake. .
The investment, of course, did not stop. This summer, the Newcastle signed Sandro Tonalli for 64 million euros, Harvey Barnesfor 45, now Tino Livramento, for 37. And at the same time that, surprisingly, it is one of the clubs that has not been affected much by the exit of players in Saudi Arabia. Only Allan Saint-Maximin he went Al-Ahlifor 27 ‘kilo’.
In this group, and after a disappointing start to the season, with three points out of twelve possible, the Newcastle return to the Champions League 20 years after its last appearance. To measure what has happened since then, the best example is that the last goal in the competition was scored by Alan Shearer.
Shearer, Jenas, Given, Woodgate…
In a Champions League that still includes two group stages, the Newcastle pass the preliminary phase before the Zeljo from Sarajevobefore losing their first three games, against Juventus Turin, Feyenoord and Kyiv Dynamo, in the first phase of the group. The response of those Bobby Robsonwhich is in their ranks is mentioned Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Shay Given and Jonathan Woodgateamong others, is to win the next two games and get the pass thanks to a goal Craig Bellamy in injury time of the last game match Feyenoord.
The fairy tale didn’t last long. in between FC Barcelona and Inter Milan They ensured that the Newcastle will not advance to the quarterfinals and one goal from Thiago Motta This is the last witnessed by St. James’ Park with the sounds of the Champions League in the background.
After crashing out in the run-up to the 2003-2004 season, years of UEFA Cup and Intertoto success followed, until dramatic relegation to the Championship in 2009 saw the Magpies only step into European competition once in 2012 for in the Europa League.
That period of suffering under the command of Ashley it’s over and now the fans are left to enjoy feeling like a great England again. Of course, always remember that their money comes from a regime where individual freedoms and human rights are more than restricted.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
