OPINION
With the fiasco surrounding Turkish club Galatasaray and financial fair play, it should come as no surprise that Newcastle United have been heavily linked with a move for long-term target Garry Rodrigues this summer.
However, Turkish Football has quoted the winger – who stands at 5″6 (source: Transfermarkt) – on their website as saying that he intends to stay at the club who won the Turkish League, saying: “I do not want to leave, I am focused on the Champions League.
“I am at a championship winning side and I want to compete in the Champions League under the management of Fatih Terim.”
The 27-year-old only arrived at the Istanbul-based outfit in 2017 when he was signed for a fee of £3.1 million from PAOK Saloniki, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists during his side’s 2017/2018 campaign.
However, this revelation by the Cape Verde international will come as a huge setback for Newcastle and boss Rafa Benitez, who are reported by Aksam to have hoped to sign Rodrigues with an asking price in the region of £17.6 million this summer.
However, it seems as though he has other plans, with Rodrigues adamant he wants to contribute to another Champions League campaign, and defend Galatasaray’s league title, before he makes any decision regarding his long term playing career.
With the Magpies hoping to make a push further up the Premier League table next season, Benitez would have been hoping to bolster his attacking options with the likes of Rodrigues, who would have thrived in such a competitive environment with some of the world’s top players.
However, Newcastle may be given a glimmer of hope as is appears that the Turkish champions may be forced to listen to offers as they potentially face sanctions from Financial Fair Play.
Whether the transfer were to happen or not, Rodrigues would be a welcome addition to a team who could potentially push for a Europa League place next campaign.