Manager unimpressed as Newcastle-linked striker throws bib angrily after substitution

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Newcastle United were linked with Luis Muriel and he seemingly hasn’t impressed his Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini.

A number of strikers were rumoured to be on Newcastle’s radar over the summer.

Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were just some of the names mentioned.

In the end, Newcastle signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad, paying a huge fee to bring the Swedish hitman to St James’ Park.

Newcastle seemed to prefer the idea of signing a young striker to complement experienced duo Chris Wood and Callum Wilson.

Newcastle United were linked with Luis Muriel

It was therefore a real surprise when Newcastle were linked with a move to sign Atalanta striker Luis Muriel.

Tuttomercatoweb reported in August that Newcastle were showing a real interest in signing Muriel.

Talks over a £12.5million deal with £2.5million in add-ons were allegedly expected, but no deal was done for the Colombian.

Muriel, 31, just didn’t really seem to fit the age profile that Newcastle were looking for this summer.

The Colombian hit nine goals and eight assists in 27 Serie A games last season, which is a decent record for the former Sevilla man.

Muriel has been in and out of the Atalanta side this season, starting two games and coming off the bench twice for a total of just 181 minutes.

Muriel hasn’t been impressing and it all seemed to boil over for him on Sunday.

Muriel was substituted in the 56th minute against Cremonese and appeared to be angry at being hauled off.

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has now been quoted by Football Italia as saying that he felt Muriel did have a good game but he just wanted to change it up.

Gasperini added that Muriel throwing his bib after being substituted was ‘not a good message’ and even suggested that the striker would play even less if he joined another club.

Those Newcastle rumours just didn’t seem right at the time and based on the lack of goals and minutes – as well as the reaction to being substituted – Isak was the right move.