When Florian Thauvin arrived at Newcastle United in 2015 it was with great hope. The almost enfant terrible of French football had found what could be a perfect home.
Newcastle United supporters would love the best of his form and Thauvin had the potential to become a Geordie hero.
The young Frenchman just couldn’t produce his best form, he hadn’t exactly come off a great season at Marseille, and hadn’t been keen on the move in the first place.
French newspaper L’Equipe have a look at the situation in their Tuesday edition, largely because Thauvin is in good form. In the summer his loan move from newcastle to Marseille will be made permanent, Thauvin won’t be returning to Rafael Benitez and St James’ Park.
It’s explained the 23 year old didn’t want to join Newcastle United in the first place, or rather didn’t want to leave Marseille.
The French club’s former president Vincent Labrune is quoted as saying: “When he had to leave for Newcastle, for economic reasons, he lived through heartbreak.”
Labrune explains that whilst Thauvin was accepting of the move and prepared to play the company man, he actually hoped the switch to St James’ Park would collapse, and leave him in Marseille.
That showed when Thauvin was so eager to leave Newcastle for Marseille on loan, and take a big pay cut to do so. Whilst Benitez, and most managers, would be happy to have Thauvin in his best form, there’s little point if his heart isn’t in it.
