Davide Santon was a big hit among many Newcastle United fans during his four-year Premier League spell – he’s now in Serie A with Roma.
The mere mention of Davide Santon will have Newcastle United fans feeling a little nostalgic.
The Italian defender was one of the star players of a Magpies side who finished fifth in the Premier League back in the 2011/12 season, helping guide one of English football’s biggest underachievers to the verge of the Champions League alongside Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba and co.
The fact that Alan Pardew ended the campaign with a PFA Manager of the Year award on his mantelpiece rather sums up just how much has changed at Tyneside since those heady times.
These days, Newcastle are more accustomed to fighting relegation than for a place in the top four. Santon, meanwhile, has had to get used to life on the bench at Roma, making just nine Serie A starts since last summer’s ill-fated move from Inter Milan.
But while Newcastle fans are missing Santon, it seems that the feeling is entirely mutual.
“I still follow and support Newcastle United as it’s a team close to my heart. I worked with Rafa Benitez in Inter Milan when I was younger, he is a great guy. And I think will do very well managing Newcastle through to this next phase,” the 28-year-old told The Chronicle.
“I wish them all the best.
“Newcastle was one of the best experiences of my career, I loved the city, the fans and the club. My girlfriend is from there and so I still visit regularly too.”
Sold for just £2.5 million in the summer of 2015, as reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, Santon can be forgiven for wondering what might have been if he had stayed at the club where he played the best football of his career.
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