Eddie Howe, the head coach of Newcastle United, has responded to rumours that Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar would sign with the team for the upcoming season if they make the UEFA Champions League.
Since the Saudi PIF takeover in late 2021, the club’s fortunes have improved both on and off the pitch, with the English manager at the forefront of the transformation on the pitch that is propelling the team into the elite stage in his first full season.
As they presently rank third in the Premier League standings, their potential European membership for the following season would aid them in luring top talents, and several names have been mentioned in connection with them should they succeed.
Cristiano Ronaldo is considering quitting Al-Nassr just five months after joining, while Neymar is also set for an exit at PSG after seven seasons in Paris.
Howe speaks on transfer rumours
According to talkSPORT, Ronaldo is growing frustrated with life in Saudi Arabia and has already witnessed a managerial change with Dinko Jelicic replacing Rudi Garcia.
Neymar had PSG fans protest at his house and chant at him to leave the club in a spate of demonstrations also targeted at Lionel Messi and Marco Veratti, according to The Athletic.
Both have been linked with a sensational move to the Premier League with Newcastle United, but Eddie Howe has other ideas opposed to bringing in 30+ stars.
“A lot of the names aren’t accurate. We need to recruit wisely,” he said, as quoted by Sportskeeda. “We want to discover them before they explode onto the world stage. We need to go underneath, find them young and develop them. I know the direction.”
Ronaldo has previous Premier League experience with Manchester United while Neymar does not, but both men have won six Champions League trophies between them.
Messi apologises for Saudi trip
PSG lost 3-1 at home to FC Lorient at the weekend before Lionel Messi embarked on an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia the following day, which sparked the anger of the ultras.
As Sports Brief reported, Messi apologised in an Instagram video after reports the club had suspended him for two weeks without pay for the unprofessional conduct.