When it comes to recent cult heroes at Newcastle United, Allan Saint-Maximin will be the first name many fans think of.
With unrivalled skill, flair and ability to make something happen from nowhere, the Frenchman was one of the few shining lights during a generally miserable Steve Bruce era.
And as much as we the fans loved Saint-Maximin, the feeling was very much reciprocated, as he has been so open about his love for the club, even two years after his sale to the Saudi Pro League.
Speaking in a new interview, the 28-year-old expresses his fondness for his former club, including just how proud he was of the club’s recent successes despite not being there to be part of it.
Speaking on to French podcaster [Zack Nani](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbKG9L91icE), Saint-Maximin has issued immense gratitude to Newcastle United for giving him what he calls “the best years of my career”, also revealing some big offers he turned down to remain at the club.
Moving from Nice to the North East back in 2019, he may have only recorded 12 goals in 111 appearances during an injury-blighted spell, but few can deny that Saint-Maximin offered us moments of joy and magic in a generally dull time for many on Tyneside.
Discussing his time at Newcastle, love for the fans and joy at seeing us lift a trophy in March, he said:
> _“I could never truly express how grateful I am to Newcastle – they gave me EVERYTHING. The chance to live the best years of my career, to feel emotions I’ll never forget. I always played, I was trusted, and I gave them everything back.”_
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> _“I didn’t leave when things were tough – I stayed. I was important enough that they didn’t want to sell me. That’s why, when the time came to leave, I had to do it the right way._
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> _“We’d just finished 4th. The team was flying, even without me, because I had injuries. But I was proud. I played in the cup final vs Manchester (United), it meant a lot._
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> _“This year, when they won the final, I was over the moon. It felt like I’d won it too – that’s how much it meant. You could see what it meant to the fans.”_
Saint-Maximin also claimed that he had a number of big opportunities to leave and a “lot of offers” around the time we were fighting against relegation, stating that Man City, Arsenal and Man Utd were “all interested.”
However, he wanted to ‘stay loyal’ and refused to abandon the club, even if leaving may have been the “smarter choice.”
> _“We were fighting relegation at the time. I had a lot of offers, and in terms of my career and development, leaving might’ve been the smarter choice._
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> _“But I didn’t want to abandon them. I stayed until the end. I stayed loyal. City, Arsenal, and United were all interested.”_
Unfortunately, with Harvey Barnes being brought in and Anthony Gordon being Howe’s first choice, Saint-Maximin soon found himself surplus to requirements.
He was part of a controversial ‘fair market value’ transfer to PIF-owned side Al-Ahli, but the £23m move has helped the club reach the next level, which Saint-Maximin takes immense pride in helping facilitate.
> _“When the offer from Al-Ahli came in, it helped the club too – we had to sell, and I was the player with the highest value.”_
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> _“They didn’t want to let me go, but when you love a club that’s given you so much, and you get a life-changing offer… it just felt like the perfect moment.”_
At the moment, Saint-Maximin finds himself in a difficult position: after a spell on loan at Fenerbahce (which could be about to get very ugly after some recent comments exchanged between the player and the club), just where he’ll play football come the start of the next season is unclear.
He’ll return to Saudi Arabia and SPL side Al-Ahli, but it remains to be seen if he’ll leave the Middle East and return to Europe.
Even with fitness concerns, many Premier League clubs would immediately benefit from a player of his quality, with the maverick winger a joy to watch on his day. Perhaps a stint back in Ligue 1 may appeal for the ex-Nice star?
Hopefully ASM can get back to what he does best and dazzle on the pitch again soon.