Paulo Fonseca really thought he would become the new Newcastle United boss – but the Magpies scrapped him when they focused on Unai Emery.
That’s according to Guillem Balague, who claims that Fonseca had not one, not two but three interviews with Newcastle.
Balague told BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily show that Fonseca thought he was nailed on to be Newcastle’s new boss.
However, Newcastle decided to focus on Emery and straight-up told Fonseca that he wouldn’t be getting the job.
That didn’t work well as Emery rejected Newcastle to stay at Villarreal, with Eddie Howe now the preferred candidate.
“Paulo Fonseca had three interviews with the decision makers at Newcastle. It got to a point where he thought he was going to be the chosen one,” said Balague.
“When they realised, or thought or assumed, that Unai Emery was going to be the one, they went back to Paulo Fonseca and said ‘no sorry it’s not going to be you’. He was that close, or at least he thought he was that close to getting it,” he added.
Newcastle go with Howe over Fonseca
Newcastle would have surely considered Fonseca again when the Emery move fell apart.
Fonseca may have won three league titles in Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk, managed in the Champions League and coached Roma, but he doesn’t have Premier League experience.
That may well be why Newcastle have ended up deciding that Howe is the man for the job.
Newcastle really don’t have time to waste, and landing a Premier League-ready coach in Howe will hopefully bring instant results.
As for Fonseca, that’s two Premier League jobs he has looked close to landing this year, only for both Newcastle and Tottenham to end up snubbing him.
Maybe Aston Villa is a possibility for him now, with the Newcastle job seemingly out of reach.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
