At the start of the last transfer window, one of the moves that seemed more likely to happen was Ruben Semedo to Newcastle United.
First a Portuguese outlet claimed there was a deal for the move to happen, and then a local newspaper published a document saying the defender was ready to be sold to Newcastle in a €20m deal.
However, Semedo ended up going elsewhere, and was signed by Spanish side Villarreal for the same price.
When asked about the decision he had to make at the time, the player said: “England was also an idea, but I was astonished when I heard the name of Villarreal. The project is amazing… That’s what led me to sign for Villarreal. They have a good team and quality of play.”
But the ‘dream to play in England’, as often mentioned by the Portuguese media about several of their players, seems to still be on.
Semedo has spoken to O Jogo on Monday, and when asked if the Premier League is a possibility for the future, he said: “I have this dream, but at this stage of my career, to develop my football, Villarreal allow me to grow in an extremely competitive league.”
Then he was quizzed if Villarreal could be a path for ‘higher flights’: “No doubt, I want to get better, claim my place at the club and in the national team.”
Things haven’t been so good for him in Spain, since the 23-year-old has been struggling to get a spot at the La Liga side. He’s made only four appearances so far, and is still to be called up for the national team since the move.
So maybe Newcastle United shouldn’t take him off their list, because if things stay like this, an early move doesn’t sound impossible.
