Allan Saint-Maximin still has a lot of love for Newcastle United after spending four years at the club.
It’s approaching exactly two years since Allan Saint-Maximin left Newcastle United.
Signed from French club Nice for £16.5million in August 2019, Saint-Maximin quickly established himself as a real fans’ favourite on Tyneside, with his eccentric style providing a bright light under the dark days of Mike Ashley’s ownership.
The Frenchman helped keep the Magpies in the Premier League on several occasions before, in his final season - 18 months after the club was taken over by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, was part of the team that secured Champions League qualification for the first time in 20 years.
Saint-Maximin would never get the chance to represent Newcastle in Europe. After racking up 124 appearances in four years, the winger was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli in July 2023 for a reported £23m.
Allan Saint-Maximin clashes with Jose Mourinho
The 28-year-old remains a player of Al Ahli but last season spent the year on loan at Turkish giants Fenerbahce, where he often clashed with manager Jose Mourinho.
Four goal contributions in his first five games saw Saint-Maximin get off to a flyer but discipline issues soon arose. Mourinho left him out for a crucial Europa League tie against Rangers, accusing him of being overweight, which led to Saint-Maximin hitting back on social media.
“It will take more than that to bring me down,” Saint-Maximin wrote on Instagram. “When lies take the elevator, truth takes the stairs; it takes longer but it always arrives in the end.”
When asked about Saint-Maximin’s comments, Mourinho did not hold back. He said: "I didn't know Saint-Maximin had a gift for poetry. I'm not bad at it either. When a footballer works well, works hard and trains every day, he can be in good form and climb up the stairs.
"He doesn't need to use the lift. By contrast, if a player doesn't train well, turns up late, is overweight and isn't ready to play a match, then he needs to use the lift - as he'll soon get tired on the stairs."
Saint-Maximin then reacted by posting a photo of him on the scales with the weight reading ‘82.4kg’ with the caption: “Keep working and [zipped mouth emoji]. Good luck guys very important game, all the best.”
Allan Saint-Maximin sends message to Newcastle United
Saint-Maximin and Mourinho’s relationship never recovered and the winger is due to return to Al Ahli. However, whether he stays in the Middle East remains to be seen with Saint-Maximin expected to attract plenty of loan interest.
And some Newcastle fans have urged the club to ‘bring him home’ after Saint-Maximin, on X, wrote “I miss you so much too” in response to a highlights video posted by a fan alongside with the caption “I actually miss him so much wtf”.
The video was uploaded on June 8 but Saint-Maximin didn’t response until Monday, which was eight days later.
In a farewell message to supporters two years ago, Saint-Maximin said he would continue to be Newcastle’s biggest fan and that he would forever remain a Geordie.
“4 years ago, I wore the Newcastle jersey for the first time. At that moment, I hadn’t realized that not only was I about to become a Newcastle player, but I was also about to become a Geordie,” he said.
“You might think « nice Goodbye message » but the sentiment runs deeper than any words I could say, from the very first months that I met the people of this city, I truly understood them and embraced their unwavering passion, which is why it was so important for me to give my all and if this meant to play injured or even not making statistics, I didn’t give a ---- as long as it would help my team.
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“Believe me, I fell for Newcastle, I had great opportunities to leave during dark days, but that was too late I was already in love, I wanted, I needed, I had to stay for helping my team to save the club from Premier League relegation because it meant the world for me.
“Of course during those dark days some may have had their doubts, but I always believed in this club and look where we are today, it’s just so beautiful. I’m leaving Newcastle as it should always have been and that’s my greatest trophy because I was a part of it.
“A deep thank you to ALL of you, my team mates, the loyal fans, the staff, the Club, etc… I’ve seen all your messages, thank you and even though this chapter has ended, the story never stops.
“Newcastle is home now, I’ll continue to be your biggest supporter, I’ll watch every game and as long as the club keeps winning I’ll be the happiest man in the world… and for sure you will see me again 👀 I love you, I love you sincerely, I love you like a Geordie brother. Once a Geordie, always a Geordie 🖤🤍”
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