‘I told him to go’: Team-mate admits he urged £35m star to join Newcastle

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Former Lille team-mate Jose Fonte admits he was ‘wrong’ about Sven Botman and told the £35 million centre-back to ‘go for it’ when Newcastle United offered the Dutchman a new challenge in the Premier League, speaking to La Voix du Nord. 

Botman has a reputation for turning his critics an almost beetroot-like shade of red. 

He was sold by Ajax for just £8 million after being farmed out on loan to Heerenveen during the summer of 2020; proof that even a club with Ajax’s superb track record in the transfer market are not impervious to the odd lapse in judgement. 

Fonte, meanwhile, was less-than impressed when Lille brought in the little-known Dutchman as a replacement for the Arsenal-bound Gabriel Magalhaes, expressing concerns over Botman’s tactical awareness. 

Concerns that Botman would quickly extinguish, he and Fonte laying the foundations for Lille’s unexpected Ligue 1 triumph in 2020/21.

Newcastle United signed Sven Botman from Lille and he’s shining in the Premier League

“When (Gabriel) left, I asked (director Luis) Campos for the name of his replacement. When he told me about Sven, I went straight onto YouTube,” recalls the former Southampton and West Ham colossus.

“My first impression was that he’s not ready, and it’s going to be hard (for him to adapt in France). Tactically, I saw things that I didn’t like.

“After two games, I told Campos that I was wrong. He had this ability to learn quickly. Beyond that, he’s a good person. A very good professional. We had two extraordinary years together.”

Botman earned Lille a near-£30 million profit when he sealed a protracted move to an upwardly-mobile, ambitious Newcastle United nearly five months ago. With the 22-year-old Dutchman now a key cog in the Premier League’s joint-best defence, Botman is once again serving up hearty portions of humble pie to his red-faced doubters. 

“Sven pushes up the pitch, he’s aggressive with a good left-foot and wins his duels. Tactically, I think I helped him improve his timing; knowing when to come out (of defence), and when to stay,” Fonte adds.

“When he told me about Newcastle, I told him to go for it. And they’re third (in the table) now.”