Arsenal had a £10million bid rejected from Newcastle United on the eve of the 2013-14 Premier League season.
Yohan Cabaye has admitted he was “sad and frustrated” at not being allowed to join Arsenal in 2013.
On the eve of the 2013-14 Premier League season, the Frenchman refused to play as Newcastle United prepared for a tricky opener away to Manchester City. This came following a £10million bid from Arsenal - with former manager Alan Pardew dealt a hammer blow to his top-flight preparations.
The saga rumbled into the following week when Cabaye also missed the goalless draw with West Ham United. He eventually stayed another five months and arguably produced his best football for the Magpies.
Cabaye famously bagged the winner at Old Trafford and a brace in the reverse fixture against West Ham before joining Paris Saint-Germain as a £20million January signing. The midfielder reunited with Pardew at Crystal Palace 18 months later and was booed on his St James’ Park return, where he missed a penalty.
Arsene Wenger the key behind Newcastle United AWOL
Speaking about the ordeal, Cabaye revealed the allure of Arsene Wenger is why he downed tools to force an Arsenal move. He told Sweepstakes Casinos: “When Arsenal bid for me, it was flattering for sure, and then the bid got turned down. There was a little bit of sadness and frustration, for sure. At first, I didn’t understand why Newcastle didn’t want to sit and talk about the deal but, after it passed, I just left my frustration behind.
“I went back to work and gave my best for the club. It was their decision and I had to respect it, but at first it wasn’t easy. There wasn’t another Premier League side I’d wanted to play for apart from Arsenal.
“Arsene Wenger is one of the best managers in football history. I had the chance to speak to him a couple of times, and he’s always inspiring. I’m glad that he’s French! His vision and knowledge is priceless.”
Yohan Cabaye blown away by Newcastle United supporters
Cabaye also opened up about his first experience of Newcastle’s unwavering support. The now 39-year-old returned to Tyneside for the 4-1 win over PSG last season.
“The first time I played for the club after I moved, it was in a friendly against Darlington,” Cabaye added. “So, it was about 40 minutes away from Newcastle. It was just a friendly game, and I was on the bench. The first one of pre-season, and I saw 6,000 fans from Newcastle in the stadium.
“The gaffer was in the seat just in front of me and he turned to me and said, ‘I bet you didn’t expect this. This is England, this is Newcastle’. I said ‘Wow.’
“It was crazy. So that showed me right away how important the fans are for the club, how passionate they are. It was just fantastic, and then I found out how loud they are at St James’ Park. It was unbelievable, the noise.
“I came back for a youth league game and for a Champions League game with Paris Saint-Germain, and I think I’d never heard noise like it on that occasion. It was unbelievable.”
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Alan Pardew’s words as Newcastle United manager revisited
Newcastle had just been thrashed at the Etihad 4-0 and were keen to iron out the issue. Pardew said at the time: "It is quite simple - we need to resolve the situation. We need to get ourselves in a position where if he stays, great, and if he doesn't stay we need to get someone equally as good.
"There should be business from us, business that is right for Newcastle where our fans get in a position where they really want to believe in the team," Pardew said. "It's difficult at the moment. We have big clubs filling our players with disharmony.
"If it is a situation where he leaves the football club, we have got to be stronger. That's my aim when the window shuts."
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