Newcastle United’s signing of Sean Steur his week has not gone down well in the Netherlands. In fact, there are few who have anything nice to say about the affair.
Journalist Wim Kieft joins the growing list of detractors today. FC Update relay his comments from his latest column in De Telegraaf.
Newcastle reaction
Sean Steur joined Newcastle in a €27m deal this week as the Magpies rebuild their midfield following Sandro Tonali’s departure.
The youngster is a product of Ajax’s youth system, playing for them at every level before making 26 appearances in the first team.
They had hoped to sign the youngster to a new deal but failed to convince the 18-year-old on their future plans for his development. That is something Newcastle have done, hence his rapid move to St James Park this week.
The reaction from the Dutch press then has been predictable since that point. They are, to put it bluntly, very unimpressed. Sport Witness have covered that reaction this week.
The first of those reports explained was Steur being warned that his first few months in the North East were going to be hell. The next was journalist Valentijn Driessen warning the youngster that history would be working against him.
Newcastle move destined to fail
Now Wim Kieft wants to get in on the picture. He’s warned Sean Steur that he’s facing a difficult task at Newcastle, in more ways than one. He believes the transfer will ‘ruin a lot of things’ and that the player has ‘perhaps stood out three times’ in the Netherlands.
“As an 18-year-old youth international, you’re certainly nowhere near ready for Newcastle United’s first team,” he said.
“Or does anyone think that the guaranteed starting place he was denied by Ajax is actually guaranteed in England?” As far as he’s concerned, the youngster is destined to fail at St James Park.
“Steur is doomed to fail at Newcastle United, because it’s not just about how good you are on the ball there,” he added.
“He’s a decent footballer, but in the Premier League it’s also very much about physicality, pace and strength in challenges. Steur already struggled with those aspects at Ajax. So, what’s a teenager like him doing at Newcastle United? (He) isn’t a Messi, Ronaldo or Mbappé.
“I would have given him another two or three seasons to develop at Ajax in the Eredivisie. Then someone like Steur could still make a brilliant move and cash in financially.”