Kieran Trippier has opened up on the events prior to his move from Atletico Madrid to Newcastle United in January 2022.
Kieran Trippier has revealed he was on the verge of joining Manchester United just months before he completed a shock move to Newcastle United during in January 2023.
The former England international was the first signing following a PIF-led takeover at St James Park as he agreed to reunite with his former Burnley manager Eddie Howe on Tyneside just months after helping Atletico Madrid become La Liga champions. The move caught many be surprise as United were sitting in the Premier League relegation zone at the time and appeared to be on their way to the Championship as the recently appointed Howe looked to instil some momentum and confidence into the squad he inherited from Steve Bruce.
A successful battle against the drop was played out and that laid the foundations for a more positive period in the Magpies recent history - but Trippier revealed his own future could have been very different.
Newcastle United's English defender #02 Kieran Trippier applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Newcastle United's English defender #02 Kieran Trippier applauds the fans following the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Bournemouth at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on April 18, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
He told Sky Sports: “The Euros, obviously we got beat by Italy. My deal was practically done to Man United so I moved all of the my stuff back, rented a house in Manchester and then it fell through so I had to move all of the way back to Madrid. It’s not a bad place to go back to really. Then I had a good chat with the manager back in Madrid, Simeone, got my head down and worked hard. It was actually Graeme Jones, I was in the Euros with him with England. I called him when Steve Bruce left and mentioned to him could I come in January. He was laughing on the phone, he thought I was joking with him. I said no, I’m serious, if the opportunity comes, can I come back.
“It was weird really because Eddie Howe came to watch us train in Madrid before he got the job. I think it was a couple of weeks before. He was travelling around Europe with Jason Tindall. We went for dinner and I planted it with Eddie and said if you get a job up north, I’ll come back. Strangely enough, about three weeks after that, he got the Newcastle job so I was on the phone straightaway saying I’ll come in January.”
‘I just hope’
Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United shakes hands with Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, after being substituted off in his last appearance for the club during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James' Park on May 17, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)placeholder image
Kieran Trippier of Newcastle United shakes hands with Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United, after being substituted off in his last appearance for the club during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and West Ham United at St James' Park on May 17, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the following years, Trippier wrote his name into Tyneside folklore by helping Newcastle qualifying for the Champions League on two occasions and playing a leading role in their historic Carabao Cup final win against Liverpool as the Magpies 70-year wait for major domestic silverware came to an end. Trippier’s time in black and white came to an end in May - and he is hopeful supporters will remember him fondly.
He said: “I never would have thought that, when I signed, in the position we did, if people said when we were nineteenth we definitely would have won a cup and be in the Champions League two times, they’re lying to you. I just hope they can remember me by being a player who gave more than 100 percent in every game that he played. Good or bad.”
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