Midfielder Manu Trigueros insists manager Unai Emery was always going to stay at Villarreal despite holding talks regarding a return to the Premier League with Newcastle United, speaking to Marca.
With Eddie Howe putting pen to paper at St James’ Park on Monday, we can draw a line under a saga that dragged on for far longer than many at Newcastle United wanted.
The former Bournemouth manager signed a three-year deal with the Premier League giants yesterday – but only after Amanda Staveley and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund had hit a brick wall in their attempts to bring Emery back to England.
The one-time Arsenal, Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain coach opted to remain at Villarreal after holding a series of talks with the Newcastle board over Zoom. And it was a decision that delighted club president Fernando Roig and many others at the Estadio de la Ceramica (Daily Mail).
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“In good times and bad, (Emery) is calm. He gives us a lot of confidence, he encourages us a lot and, when there is a bad moment, he keeps us calm,” says Trigueros, Villarreal’s long-serving playmaker.
“(Links with Newcastle) reached us (the players). We were waiting to see what would happen.
“Emery told us there was no offer and he would stay. He was sincere with us and has stayed at Villarreal to achieve his objectives.”
Emery guided Villarreal to Europa League glory last season, beating Manchester United to lift a trophy he also claimed three times as Sevilla manager.
It’s understood Emery had concerns over Newcastle’s lack of clear planning behind the scenes. Newcastle’s new board bounced around from Xavi to Joachim Low and from Lucien Favre to Eddie Howe – and Emery wasn’t happy with the way speculation concerning his future leaked into the public sphere.
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