Newcastle United made 12 signings during the summer ahead of their campaign in the Championship.
Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie is congratulated by manager Rafael Benitez after the match
Rafa Benitez has suggested that of all the summer signings Newcastle United made last year, Matt Ritchie was the one most keen on moving to St James’ Park, the Shields Gazette reports.
Ahead of a campaign in the Championship, the Magpies made 12 signings with 11 arriving permanently, while Christian Atsu joined on loan from Chelsea.
Perhaps surprisingly, Benitez has confirmed that Ritchie – who moved for £12 million from Bournemouth (via Shields Gazette) – was the acquisition who needed the least convincing about heading north.
“Out of all the players we were talking about, he was the most clear that he wanted to come here,” he said, as reported by the Shields Gazette.
“For him, Newcastle was a massive club in a massive city, and he was talking about the fans and the stadium. From day one, he was very excited about the move. Clearly, he wanted to come.”
Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie celebrates scoring
Although it would not be a shock if the decision was vindicated in the next couple of years at most, the surprise is arguably down to the fact that the Scotland international was apparently so willing to drop down a division when he was such a key player for the Cherries.
But with Ritchie performing so well with Newcastle this season – his goal against Wigan with his 10th of the season in the league, while he has also contributed seven assists – it is fair to say that he has definitely helped put Benitez’s men in a great position to surpass Bournemouth’s current position when they return to the Premier League – which almost certainly appears to be next season.
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