Newcastle United wanted to bolster their attack this summer, by adding Hugo Ekitike to their squad for the new season.
The Magpies took firm steps to try and secure the striker’s services, and worked to reach an agreement with Stade de Reims.
A deal wasn’t completed due to Newcastle’s failure to convince the 20-year-old, and their task became complicated after Paris Saint-Germain arrived on the scene for him.
PSG advisor Luis Campos was successful in convincing Ekitike to snub the Tyneside club in favour of joining the Ligue 1 winners. Earlier this month, the latter succeeded in signing the France U20 international on a loan deal with an option to buy from Reims.
Le Parisien have published an interview Ekitike, in which he was asked if he put Eddie Howe’s side on hold in the January window and this summer because he was waiting for PSG. When responding to this, he revealed Campos’ role in helping him make the final decision.
“I had an appointment with Luis which meant a lot to me. It was not so long ago. We talked a lot, he is someone I value a lot. I wanted to come to PSG before this exchange [with Campos], but he convinced me even more,” Le10 Sport quote Ekitike as saying.
“I’m not setting aside everything Newcastle did for me to come. If I had to go abroad, I would have gone there. But when PSG wants you and you’re French, you can’t refuse.”
The Frenchman also detailed how Campos convinced him to join Christophe Galtier’s side this summer.
“To convince me, you have to talk about sport. What interests me is the game and what can be put in place. We discussed that a lot, his vision, mine and we were in total agreement. I know he has confidence in me, he thinks I’m going to do great things and I will give him that confidence back on the pitch,” Ekitike explained.
Le10 point out Ekitike doesn’t regret picking PSG over Newcastle. Taking his age into account, joining Eddie Howe’s side would have been viewed as a safe bet, but Ekitike feels otherwise.
“The risk did not enter my mind. All those who positioned themselves were big clubs. I’m not afraid of anything, I want to discover a high level. PSG are the biggest club in France, but also in the world,” the attacker stressed, without laughing.
“As long as you are ambitious and you know what you want, why proceed in stages? That’s how I thought. For me, you are not born a great, you become one!”
