Newcastle United flop Florian Thauvin has been named in the France squad for this summer’s World Cup.
News that Florian Thauvin will be going to the World Cup with France this summer has left Newcastle United fans to wonder what might have been.
Thauvin’s inclusion in Didier Deschamps’ 23-man squad heading to Russia in June will have come as a surprise for those whose only memories of the diminutive winger are of his ill-fated spell on Tyneside.
A £13million signing from Marseille in the summer of 2015, much was expected from the Frenchman but he would just make 15 appearances for the club before returning to Marseille the following January – with his only goal for the club coming in a League Cup second round victory over Northampton Town
Thauvin’s renaissance back at Marseille has been remarkable however and is coming off the back of a wonderful campaign with his side still battling for Champions League qualification in Ligue 1, following their Europa League final defeat to Atletico Madrid.
An extraordinary return of 26 goals and 18 assists in all competitions has seen him rewarded with a spot in hugely competitive France squad – with Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Arsenal’s Alexandre Lacazette among those to miss out.
Impressed with the turnaround, Newcastle supporters have been left to wonder how things might have panned out had Thauvin been afforded a little more time – and perhaps given the chance to work under Rafa Benitez.
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