Newcastle United sold Lloyd Kelly for £20million after he made just four Premier League starts for the club.
Former Newcastle United defender Lloyd Kelly still harbours World Cup ambitions and dismissed talk about a possible Premier League return.
The Magpies signed Kelly on a free transfer from Bournemouth a year ago but he made just four Premier League starts before leaving in January. Juventus came calling on loan, with the deal becoming permanent for £20million at the end of the season.
Toon chiefs were hailed for their tidy business which allowed them to coast over the PSR threshold. Miguel Almiron’s sale to Atlanta United also added much-needed headroom on the balance sheet.
Juventus sacked sporting director
However, Kelly’s switch to Italy has not gone down well - with national outlets labelling him one of their worst-ever signings. Poor recruitment was viewed as the key reason behind sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli being sacked earlier this month.
Crystal Palace have been linked with offering Kelly an escape route back to England - teeing up a potential Newcastle reunion next year. But speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 26-year-old shut down those claims and insisted his future lies in Turin.
Lloyd Kelly on World Cup and Crystal Palace
Kelly also bizarrely suggested his performances for Juve next season could earn him a place in England’s World Cup squad. He said: “We are ready for the World Cup. I personally feel good in Italy and at Juventus. Crystal Palace's interest? I am 100 per cent focused on the Bianconeri and would like to stay for a long time in this great club.
“I am getting to know a culture and a way of playing that is different to England. The history of Serie A is full of great defenders. (It is a) a truly beautiful experience. I will do my best to get to play for England, the national team is always in my thoughts.”
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Eddie Howe on Lloyd Kelly exit
Eddie Howe opened up about selling Kelly being born out of necessity given the tight PSR situation. He told reporters in February: “I don’t think it was necessarily my decision to let him leave, I think it was very reluctant from our side because Lloyd’s a player that had just recently signed and we believed in him and his qualities.
“Slightly frustrating for him that he hadn’t played more, but in part really due to the form of the other players around him. But I think we’re in the world, and we have been this window of trying to manage PSR and trying to make decisions that benefit us in the long term.
“This is one of those decisions. So, Lloyd leaves with our best wishes, he certainly has had an exemplary attitude during his time here and I’m sure he’ll do well in Italy and it’s an exciting new challenge for him.”
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