Jose Enrique has revealed why he snubbed a return to Newcastle in 2016.
Jose Enrique in action for Newcastle United
Former Newcastle United left back Jose Enrique has told The Chronicle that he did have the chance to re-join the club under Steve McClaren – but didn’t feel he was phyiscally read to return.
Enrique joined Newcastle from Villarreal back in the summer of 2007, and after a difficult first season, the Spaniard starred in the Championship during the 2008-09 season.
Enrique’s superb performances earned him a 2011 move to Liverpool, having become one of the Premier League’s most consistent left backs, and he was a regular under Kenny Dalglish and, initially, Brendan Rodgers.
However, Enrique’s injury problems saw him play just 21 games for Liverpool in his final three seasons for the club, and he left at the end of his contract in 2016, and he called time on his career due to injuries this summer, after just 24 games for Real Zaragoza last season.
Jose Enrique (R) of Newcastle United holds off the challenge of Yossi Benayoun (L) of Chelsea
Enrique’s exit was somewhat controversial as he moved on to Liverpool in pursuit of a top six finish and criticised Newcastle’s trasfer policy, but some fans still wanted him back at St. James’ Park after Massadio Haidara and Paul Dummett suffered injury woes.
Reports from The Mirror on deadline day in 2016 suggested that Enrique was in talks over a return to Newcastle, but the deal appeared to fall through at the last minute.
Now, Enrique has told The Chronicle that it was Steve McClaren who did offer him a return to Tyneside, offering him a two to three year deal to make a surprise return to St. James’ Park.
Enrique revealed that he didn’t sign for Newcastle because he didn’t feel physically capable of making a return that would justify coming back, feeling that he couldn’t give fans what they deserved.
Jose Enrique in action with Stoke City’s Jonathan Walters
“I had a chance to come back before Rafa (Benitez). Steve McClaren was the manager and he wanted me back and there was an offer from Newcastle,” said Enrique. “It was the January of 2016 and there was a contract for me of two to three years – it would have been a good contract and a chance to return to the city I loved but I decided not to do it.”
“To be honest I wasn’t sure about myself and my injuries. I was struggling physically and – to be honest – I knew I would be sh*t for them. I could have taken the money and sat on the bench or in the stands but it was Newcastle and I felt I couldn’t do that. When I was there the first time I played good football and I knew if I went back, I wasn’t the same player. It would have ruined what happened for me the first time. I didn’t want people to look back and think ‘Maybe he was sh*t after all’.
“It was a good contract. I only had six months left at Liverpool so it made sense to take it but I wanted to end on a high. I couldn’t go back and not give it my all,” he added.
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