Rolando Aarons left Newcastle on deadline day to join Italian side Hellas Verona.
Newcastle flyer Rolando Aarons has told loan side Hellas Verona’s official website that he decided to move to Italy because of the Serie A outfit’s manager, Fabio Pecchia.
Aarons, 22, rejected the chance to remain in England with Championship strugglers Hull City in favour of a move back to Italy, joining Rafa Benitez’s former assistant Pecchia at relegation-threatened Verona.
Since his move, the winger has started Verona’s last two Serie A outings against AS Roma and Sampdoria, but has failed to help Verona preventing 1-0 and 2-0 defeats respectively.
Speaking in a press conference in quotes published on the club’s website, Aarons stated what Benitez told him to do when choosing his future on January’s deadline day.
“I received offers in January, but I chose to come to Verona because I wanted to play in Serie A, a very fascinating Championship,” Aarons said. “I am proud to be in a team with such a warm and passionate audience.
“I think this is an important growth opportunity for me. I am happy to work again with Mr Pecchia, whom I had already met in Newcastle. Benitez? He encouraged me to take the best choice for myself, Verona was a natural choice for me.”
Rafa Benitez and Fabio Pecchia.
The loan signing of Brazilian trickster Kenedy had pushed Aarons down the pecking order at St. James’ Park, with the Toon already boasting the likes of Matt Ritchie, Christian Atsu and Jacob Murphy as options out wide.
It left Aarons with little choice but to consider his options and he is now looking to catch both Pecchia and Benitez’s eye with his displays in gold and blue. However, he faces a fight to do that with Verona lacking in both possession and goals.
Aarons is likely to make his third start for Verona on Monday night, as they travel to face Lazio.
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