Robin Gosens insists he ‘never really considered’ a money-spinning move to Premier League strugglers Newcastle United before joining Serie A champions Inter Milan, speaking to Kicker.
It’s not often a club sitting one place and two points above the bottom of the Premier League table are competing with one of the biggest clubs in Europe for a £20 million Germany international.
But, thanks to their Saudi Arabian owners, Newcastle can go head-to-head with almost anyone these days. Entering the ring is one thing, however, dodging a knockout punch something else entirely.
The newly-minted Magpies were willing to hand Gosens a £55,000-a-week contract at St James’ Park.
But, opting for silverware and Champions League football at the San Siro instead, the former Atalanta flyer accepted a lower offer to stay in Italy.
According to Football Italia, Gosens has signed a deal worth £40,000-a-week at Inter Milan.
Why did Robin Gosens choose Inter Milan over Newcastle?
“I thought about it,” Gosens admits when quizzed on Newcastle’s interest. “But I never really considered a change.”
“I find it very human to think about it. If you can earn a multiple (amounts of money) for the same job in a different location? Show me someone who just says; ‘no, thank you’.
“It’s not just about me. I could probably have secured a few more generations of my family with this money.”
It says a lot about Newcastle’s new-found financial firepower that players like Gosens, Diego Carlos and Sven Botman would be tempted by the prospect of joining a club who’ve picked up just 15 points from 63 available this term, staring down the barrel of a third relegation since 2009.
But if Newcastle want to take full advantage of Mohammed Bin Salman’s billions, they cannot afford to continue circling the plughole.
Because, while some players would jump at the prospect of enhancing their personal fortunes at St James’ Park, there will always be those like Gosens who put football above finance.
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