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Tyne Talk

Didier Deschamps’ Anti-Newcastle Agenda Made Clear

11 years ago
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Newcastle United’s signing of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa hasn’t brought universal acclaim.

United’s capture of Ligue One’s reigning champions’ captain, and French international,  has brought disrespectful  comments from France’s national manager, Didier Deschamps, who had this to say after the transfer;

“I do not know if Mapou made that right choice, we will see later.

I think he had no choice. If Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern were also in for him, I think he would not have chosen Newcastle. This can also be a springboard for him in the long run”.

There may be a place for Mbiwa’s national manager congratulating the player on his move but making such patronising and negative comments is totally out of line. Obviously if Champions League regulars had been competing for the player then it would have made the move a lot more difficult but it isn’t Deschamps’ place to now be sticking the knife in to both player and club.

If the player was going to an uncompetitive league simply for the wages then I could see why he might feel the player was taking a backward step but, with no disrespect to our French friends (especially when they make up most of our team!), going from Ligue 1 to the more competitive Premier League must surely help the player’s development.

There is likely to be a high element of playing to his home audience for Deschamps with not exactly every French football fan being that happy about Newcastle’s raiding parties over the Channel.

There is unrest at what is seen by many as a cynical transfer policy of targeting the lower waged French league which has already seen the fans of club football lose internationals Cabaye, Ben Arfa and Mbiwa to Newcastle….with the possibility of more to come.

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