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People in Newcastle have been talking about my decision to move to China without knowing what happened behind the scenes during my three years at St James’ Park. I haven’t wanted to say too much about that — I’ve encouraged supporters to get behind Steve Bruce and his new team — but I’ve been made aware of what Lee Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director, claimed in the club’s match programme last weekend and I think it’s important I address that. I tried to do my best every day, even staying when we went down to the Championship and saying no to other offers — bigger offers than the one I recently accepted with Dalian Yifang, by the way. If I was only interested in moving “for money”, as Charnley stated, I could have done it much earlier. Over my long career, and especially in my time at Newcastle, I’ve always shown commitment to my club, its city and its community and I’ve done it with professionalism and honesty. Newcastle’s board had a year to sort out my contract but, when we met after the end of last season, they didn’t make me an offer I could accept. They told me they didn’t want to invest in the academy or the training ground — if they like, I can explain the reason why Mike Ashley refused to do that. Their idea of a project was a policy of signing players under 24 and, in my opinion, the budget available was not enough to compete for the top 10. After that meeting, I knew they would not come back with a serious offer and, when it arrived, 19 days later, it was for the same salary as three years earlier and with less control over signings. Charnley’s comments in the programme about having a deal agreed for Joelinton in February explains a lot that I couldn’t understand at that time. After three years of unfulfilled promises, I didn’t trust them. When we finished 10th in the Premier League in our first season back, all players and staff were paid a bonus — aside from my coaching team. That felt like a punishment for me not signing an extension. So, by the end, I knew there would not be a proper offer and they knew I was not signing. couldn’t explain that in public because I was not allowed to talk to the press without their permission, so I was waiting until late June, like every fan, hoping there would be good news about Newcastle’s prospective takeover. On Sunday morning, I switched on my television in Dalian and there was a documentary about Alan Shearer being shown. Can you believe that? It’s true. I saw joy in the faces of Newcastle fans after every goal. I didn’t need the reminder, because I was there so recently, there with all my heart, but it made me think again about that history and potential. And it made me consider something else: what would an 18-year-old Newcastle supporter think about his club now?’

Rafa‘s reaction: People in Newcastle have been talking about my decision to move to China without knowing what happened behind the scenes during my three years at St James’ Park. I haven’t wanted to say too much about that — I’ve encouraged supporters to get behind Steve Bruce and his new team — but I’ve been made aware of what Lee Charnley, Newcastle’s managing director, claimed in the club’s match programme last weekend and I think it’s important I address that. Newcastle’s board had a year to sort out my contract but, when we met after the end of last season, they didn’t make me an offer I could accept. They told me they didn’t want to invest in the academy or the training ground — if they like, I can explain the reason why Mike Ashley refused to do that. Their idea of a project was a policy of signing players under 24 and, in my opinion, the budget available was not enough to compete for the top 10. After that meeting, I knew they would not come back with a serious offer and, when it arrived, 19 days later, it was for the same salary as three years earlier and with less control over signings. Charnley’s comments in the programme about having a deal agreed for Joelinton in February explains a lot that I couldn’t understand at that time. After three years of unfulfilled promises, I didn’t trust them. When we finished 10th in the Premier League in our first season back, all players and staff were paid a bonus — aside from my coaching team. That felt like a punishment for me not signing an extension. I couldn’t explain that in public because I was not allowed to talk to the press without their permission, so I was waiting until late June, like every fan, hoping there would be good news about Newcastle’s prospective takeover. The time was passing and we were losing job opportunities in Europe. I couldn’t wait forever. I’m a family man and I have a responsibility to them, my staff, Paco, Antonio and Mikel, and their families, too. I don’t like to gamble with the future of my people. In front of us we had three options: nothing serious from Newcastle, the hope of a possible takeover or a different project. Yes, it was a big offer in China — I have never denied that — but it was also another continent and another league, from a club giving us a lot of recognition and respect. That decision wasn’t easy, but it was clear. On Sunday morning, I switched on my television in Dalian and there was a documentary about Alan Shearer being shown. Can you believe that? It’s true. I saw joy in the faces of Newcastle fans after every goal. I didn’t need the reminder, because I was there so recently, there with all my heart, but it made me think again about that history and potential. And it made me consider something else: what would an 18-year-old Newcastle supporter think about his club now?’

Sign a good young player, sell them on for a profit in a season or two at the most. Or that’s the plan. The other things require time, knowledge, long term investment, giving a fuck about the club beyond making money, etc. Basically he’s never shown any interest beyond getting through the season at hand. He’ll never change

Greetings from the second leg of my 3 week tour of Costa Rica. Just arrived at Arenal volcano and rainforest after spending the first 6 nights at Puerto Viejo down on the Caribbean coast. Next stop in 7 days time is Manuel Antonio national park the Pacific peninsula. Mind blowing place. So far we’ve seen toucans, sloths, howler and white faced monkeys, poisonous tree frogs, venomous yellow eyelash vipers and iguanas. And bloody terrifying tropical thunderstorms. Almost shat the bed when a bolt of lightening went off directly above us in the middle of the night in our jungle cabin. The whole room was shaking, the thunder was a crack rather than a rumble and lit up the place like bonfire night. The jungle noises at night take a bit of getting used to and all. Frogs, wild cats and fuck knows what else chirping and growling away all bastard night, sounding like they’re in the room with you. Had to put the light on a couple of times just to be sure.

Don’t worry he’ll eventually get the hang of this football lark...

Hello. I'll probably get some abuse here as a season ticket holder at another club (Liverpool) but I've just listened to a podcast about Ashley and Newcastle United and it's pissed me off. I don't really like Newcastle United or any other club and their supporters bar my own but the way I've just heard it so eloquently put what he has done to your football club is criminal. The man is an evil bastard and the way he buys things and effectively downgrades them for his own personal windfall is hideous. Not even sure why I've just registered on the site of another football club - just felt a moment of solidarity when listening to some Geordie fella (in the 'Strawberry' bar?) talking about how people have eventually just lost interest and stopped bothering with the football club. To think someone could be banned for life for having a scrap outside the stadium on matchday or running on the pitch to celebrate a goal or something like that, yet this cunt is allowed to do this. This is not really meant to be one of those cringey 'I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you' type of things. I don't wish you well on the pitch particularly. Just think the people of Newcastle deserve a football club that represents them rather than some criminal purveyor of low-quality sports gear who basically uses slave labour. Bye.

There really is a cabal of mysterious Tyneside businessman who plot alongside local authorities to keep Wearside in Tyneside's economic and cultural shadow.

If nowt else there’s the potential for hilarity by his picking this of all seasons to go full soopafan

Is this finally the week?

I’ve been told by someone I fully believe that he’s been doing exactly that. The rumours about him speaking to Vieira and Arteta are true, it put Vieira off but Arteta still wanted to come but couldn’t get the coaches he wanted to come with him. I also heard he spoke to some of our transfer targets one of them was a full back from France who was supposedly close to signing then opted out. No surprise mind, you can’t treat someone like shit for 3 years and expect them to act in your interest.

i think the quote at the end is equally as poignant... " what would an 18-year-old Newcastle supporter think about his club now?" tragically they've been well and truly programmed to believe we're unable to compete with behemoths of english football such as bournemouth, watford, southampton etc, we're in our rightful place. what's more tragic is the parents/grandparents who funded their newcastle childhood and who themselves experienced the club as it could be, continue to fund ashley and ensure that this generation will never see a competitive club or get the opportunity to see us play in some of the finest cities and stadiums in europe.

It does seem rather contradictory that Ashley has put the emphasis on signing young players with a view to increasing their resale values yet refuses to facilitate that improvement with any investment in the training ground, academy or manager.

At least we will find out who are the cowards

I've got to say, Bruce isn't a good a manager as Rafa!

Just so you know, I appreciate your consistency.

It’s almost like Bruce is a shit old manager who’s completely out of his depth

Claims he had a knock. The stupidity was 4 defenders on the bench but that was supposedly because Dummet and Lascelles weren't 100%. Yes, we're back to playing unfit players a la fucking Pardew.

Not just any cabal either, a shadowy cabal. The worst kind