Allan Saint-Maximin spent four years at Newcastle United before leaving to join Saudi Pro League club Al-AHli.
Allan Saint-Maximin has revealed he turned down several offers to leave Newcastle United during the club’s plight under Mike Ashley.
The Frenchman dazzled St James’ Park for four years before leaving to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli in 2023. At that point, the Magpies were on the up having just qualified for the Champions League.
New ownership promised ambition - a forgotten emotion for most of Saint-Maximin’s time on Tyneside. While not always consistent, the winger brought flair and excitement to a club desperately needing a fresh lease of life.
Allan Saint-Maximin on chances to leave Newcastle United
Speaking to YouTube channel Zack, Saint-Maximin opened up about snubbing offers due to the love he felt at Newcastle. He said: “I left the club at the top, I didn't leave like a thief. I didn't leave them when they were at the bottom.
“I had the option to leave them for big clubs, when they were playing at the bottom. I had a lot of offers at that time, but I didn't want to leave them. For my career and my development, it was better for me to make these decisions, but I stayed until the end. I stayed loyal, even if I closed my eyes on big financial sums, to much more interesting contracts than the one I had in Newcastle.
“For me, it's important to be loyal. I spent a year in Newcastle, and with the matches I played, even one of my favourites, against Manchester City, where I created three goals, everyone saw it.
“When you play at that level, when you play against City, when you play against Arsenal, Liverpool, when you score against Manchester, it doesn’t go unnoticed. You get offers, and it was clear to Newcastle that I was irreplaceable.
“This feeling of being irreplaceable, of being an important player, to the point where you don't want to be sold, you don't want to get rid of yourself, it was an exceptional feeling. In the end, I decided to be loyal, and for me, it was really important that the day I decided to leave, (I had) to leave through the front door. That's what I did. I left when we finished fourth.”
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Allan Saint-Maximin on Carabao Cup win
Saint-Maximin also discussed how happy he felt seeing Newcastle end their trophy curse with a Carabao Cup win in March. He said: “It was a more complicated season (his last year at Newcastle) due to the injuries I had that season. I had a few absences that were costly in a way, and the team did very well without me.
“I also experienced the cup final, where I was the starter of the first final in years. We experienced the final against Manchester (United), and they won (against Liverpool in March). I was so happy. It was as if I had won.
“It was exceptional, because you know what it's like when you're just there and you see the disappointment of the supporters, of your teammates, and the fact that they manage to live that, it's exceptional.”
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