Summer signing Achraf Lazaar has revealed he snubbed Fiorentina to join Newcastle United.
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Achraf Lazaar has told the Chronicle that he snubbed Fiorentina to join Newcastle United this summer because of Rafael Benitez.
The 24 year-old moved to the Magpies from Palermo in the final days of the summer transfer window for a fee of around £3m.
After a successful spell in Italy, Fiorentina came in for the defender and offered him Europa League football; however, Lazaar opted to join the Rafael Benitez revolution in the North East.
The defender says it has always been his dream to play in England and he was delighted when Newcastle made a move despite their Championship status.
He told the Chronicle: “I had to choose between Newcastle and Fiorentina. Fiorentina are a great club, but my head and my family have told me, ‘Go to Newcastle’. England has always been my dream, then Newcastle will go in the Premier League and it has everything to be great.
“In Sicily, there were too many changes, and so many situations and so when Rafa Benitez called it was good for me. To receive the call from an important coach like Benitez – who spoke to me in a truly humble way – was something unexpected and important. He has won so much and is one of the strongest in the world.
“I could only say: ‘Yes sir. I am here’. I saw the facilities and the environment is very different from Italy. The is an amazing organisation, which has a beautiful stadium, fantastic fans.”
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It is certainly showing that Newcastle, even without Premier League football, can attract the big names, although it seems having Benitez at the helm is helping pulling the high calibre of player to the club.
Benitez has also been able to bring in Premier League players such as Dwight Gayle, Matt Ritchie, DeAndre Yedlin and Christian Atsu as well as the likes of Ciaren Clark, Mo Diame.
Combine this will holding on to many key players from last season and the Magpies have a very competitive side, particularly for the second tier, exemplified perfectly by the 6-0 demolition job they did on QPR on Tuesday night.
Would Matt Ritchie have joined the club if Benitez were not in charge? It is certainly debatable, but the former Liverpool manager has the ability to lure better players to the football club.
Benitez has won the Champions League as a manager, and led some of the best clubs in the world such as Valencia, Liverpool, Napoli, Chelsea and Real Madrid, managing some of the best players along the way.
For the Magpies to have his services is a huge coup, and if he can guide them back to the Premier League, it could be exciting times at St. James’ Park.
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