Newcastle United have missed out on signing Soualiho Meite with the Serie A ace opting to join the “legendary” AC Milan instead, speaking on the Rossoneri’s Twitter page.
12 months after the Magpies failed with a club-record bid for Boubakary Soumare, Steve Bruce’s fruitless pursuit of a growling midfield general goes on.
Meite, like Soumare, is a powerful, 6ft-something pillar as useful in possession as he is without.
Last week Milan News 24 reported the former France U20 international was a target for a Newcastle side sliding into a relegation battle at breakneck speed.
But it never felt likely Meite would swap Torino for Tyneside, especially with AC Milan flying high at the top of Serie A and looking to end a decade of disappointment with an unexpected Scudetto triumph.
“Milan are a great team with great history, a legendary club,” says Meite, who arrives on loan with an option-to-buy clause set at about £9 million.
“Therefore, I was so happy when they contacted me. I spoke to my family and friends I was so happy.
“Milan have always had great players and targeted top objectives, and I want to be a part of that.
“I’m so happy to be here with a team that has an illustrious history. It’s a little sad we are playing without the fans, but I can tell them to stand by us and give us their strength.”
Milan have maintained their excellent form despite a midfield injury crisis – one that forced full-back Davide Calabria to play in an unfamiliar central role during the titanic clash with Juventus two weeks ago.
For Newcastle, the increasingly embattled Bruce will have to look elsewhere for a man capable of injecting some balance into his horribly disjointed Newcastle team.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
