Malick Thiaw talks about upcoming Marseille match and reflects on facing Erling Haaland | OneFootball

Eddie Howe had been trying to sign Malick Thiaw for some time.

The Newcastle United Head Coach finally landing his target in August 2025.

A low key summer signing, the £30m paid for Malick Thiaw was very much on the low side compared to what many rival Premier League clubs have been spending on defenders.

Very quickly though, the brilliance of Eddie Howe in the transfer market has been rewarded, the former AC Milan putting in a string of accomplished performances.

Topped off by that one against Erling Haaland and Manchester City at the weekend.

Malick Thiaw looking like the bargain of this summer transfer window.

Malick Thiaw speaking ahead of tonight’s Marseille match:

“We must take the confidence and the [positive] emotions into this [Marseille] game.

“I’m a really confident player but if you play against one of the best players [such as Erling Haaland], maybe the best striker right now, it can give you a little bit of extra motivation and confidence. Of course I will take that.”

Malick Thiaw asked if he thought there was further improvement to come from him?

“Hopefully.

“I am still just 24, I have already learned and experienced a lot in my young career, but there’s plenty of room for improvement for me individually.

“I am just trying to learn from my teammates, from the coach and my opponent.

“I will try to catch everything I can do better and just try and improve each day.”

Last week, Malick Thiaw spoke to Italian media [that reports specifically on AC Milan] about moving from AC Milan to Newcastle United and reuniting with Sandro Tonali:

Was it your decision to move from Milan to Newcastle?

Malick Thiaw:

“I decided to go to Newcastle.

“Yes, I’m happy.”

Was it impossible to say no to the Premier League, the Champions League?

Malick Thiaw:

“Milan is a great club, it was difficult, but I thought it was the right time to try something new.

“So I heard from Newcastle and finally said yes.”

Did Sandro Tonali, your former teammate at Milan, play a key role in convincing you to leave?

Malick Thiaw:

“No, I didn’t speak to him, when I was [still] in Milan.

“When I arrived in England, he explained to me that Newcastle is a great city, the club is great, not like Milan, but it is nice, the fans are incredible.”

The fans hotter than Milan?

Malick Thiaw:

“Difficult, AC Milan fans are incredible.”

My thoughts

Nice to have AC Milan as our feeder club…

Two brilliant Eddie Howe signings that are most definitely Newcastle United’s gain and AC Milan’s loss.

To sign the pair for around £85m is incredible business and no wonder AC Milan fans are gutted about losing both of them.

The two signings from AC Milan also have their best years still ahead of them, Sandro Tonali aged 25, whilst Malick Thiaw is 24.