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發表於 2007-9-22 00:20:03
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Luque: I came to United for money
ALBERT Luque has admitted he never wanted to join Newcastle United but was made an offer “too good to refuse”. Nevertheless, the Spanish winger claims he took a big pay cut to end his life as a “tourist” and escape a club with “no vision”.
The forward joined for £9.5m from Deportivo La Coruña in August 2005 but was sold to Ajax at a £7.5m loss two years later after making a negligible impact. Luque started just six Premier League games, scoring three goals in 34 appearances in all competitions and now claims he never wanted to join the Magpies.
“I gave Newcastle a negative reply when they called,” the 29-year-old recalled. “I was having a great time at Depor. I put in fine performances, lived in a beautiful town and there was no reason to leave. (But) they came up with an offer too good to refuse. I had a talk with then-chairman, Freddie Shepherd, and told him how much I wanted to earn. It was a ludicrous amount, but he didn’t bat an eyelid. The negotiations with Deportivo were also over in no time. (President Augusto Cesar) Lendoiro told Shepherd the asking price was £9.5m and Shepherd simply said ‘yes’ twice.”
Luque joined a full Spanish international and a regular in one of La Liga’s best sides. Many felt a lack of motivation was to blame for his failure to transfer that talent to English football and his comments to Voetbal International do little to dispel the theory.
“I was going to earn lots and lots of money at a club I had never paid attention to before and move to a town I knew nothing about,” he said. “I hardly knew any of my new colleagues and hardly spoke any English. I tore a hamstring in my second league appearance, was on the sidelines for three months and when I returned there was a new manager (Glenn Roeder).
“He ignored me completely. I often started on the bench and even more often was forced to watch from the stands. I never got an opportunity to adapt to the British style.”
Although Luque claimed to get on much better with Sam Allardyce, he had reached the end of his tether when the 52-year-old arrived. “It gradually dawned on me I was not one of Roeder’s signings and no matter how well I did at training, he would only include me in the starting line-up for a cup competition they don’t take seriously in England,” he said.
“Sam Allardyce told me on his first working day I deserved a genuine chance. He had seen me at Deportivo and was sure I couldn’t have lost the knack. I did believe him, but I was fed up with life in Newcastle. After two dismal years I didn’t want to stay any longer. I was frequently linked with Spanish clubs in those two years, but they couldn’t meet my wage demands. I earned an incredible amount and was not willing to let it go. But this summer I came to the conclusion that money is not the only thing in life.
“I told Newcastle’s new chairman, Chris Mort, money was not an issue any more, provided they let me go. I was fed up with leading a tourist-like life.”
Luque blamed the running of the club for the failure to lift a domestic trophy since 1955, and believes they will be much better off now Roeder and Shepherd have left. “They have a lot of potential and money to spend, but no genuine vision on how to run a club or create conditions to ensure success,” he explained. “The stadium is invariably packed and 5,000 to 10,000 fans support their team vociferously at every away game. But the club never raises silverware.
“I was signed alongside Jean-Alain Boumsong, who cost £8m. He did not feature in Roeder’s plans either and was another example of money down the drain. I am glad Shepherd and Roeder have gone and delighted Mort and Allardyce have taken over. They have made a good impression on me. I just hope the players and fans see some success at long last.”
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發表於 2007-9-23 00:03:17
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