What Hugo Ekitike said on explaining why he turned down Newcastle United when at Reims | OneFootball

Are Eddie Howe and Newcastle United finally going to sign Hugo Ekitike?

The last 72 hours it has become ever increasingly clear that this is the intention.

Newcastle United having made contact with the striker’s representatives to make known to Hugo Ekitike that they want to sign him.

Whilst NUFC also entering talks with Eintracht Frankfurt to try and agree a transfer fee.

As most of you will know, Eddie Howe and Newcastle United previously tried to sign Hugo Ekitike back in 2022.

Maybe though time for a reminder as to exactly what Hugo Ekitike said later, when explaining why he turned down Eddie Howe and Newcastle United three years ago.

Jean-Pierre Caillot told French media on 1 June 2022, that FC Reims had accepted an offer for the transfer of Hugo Ekitike.

The Ligue 1 club’s President saying that the FC Reims hierarchy were very happy with what Newcastle had offered…but it was up to the player himself and his representatives, whether the deal was completed.

On 16 July 2022, 45 days later after Newcastle’s offer was accepted by FC Reims, Hugo Ekitike was announced instead as PSG’s new signing.

Hugo Ekitike interviewed by Le Parisien in late July 2022, explaining why he ended up signing for PSG and not Newcastle United, what actually happened:

‘Did you put Newcastle on hold this summer, despite the agreement with Reims, because you were waiting for PSG?’

Hugo Ekitike:

“I had an appointment with Luis (Campos) which meant a lot for me.

“It was not so long ago.

“We talked a lot, he is someone I consider enormously.

“I wanted to come to PSG before this exchange but it convinced me even more.

“I don’t put aside everything Newcastle did to get 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.”

‘What was the content of Luis Campos’ speech?’

“To convince me, you have to talk about sport. What interests me is the game and what can be implemented.

“We discussed that a lot, his vision, mine and we were in total osmosis.

“He sees me as a player with a lot of qualities and predicts an interesting future for me. 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.”

“I wanted to come to PSG before this exchange, but it convinced me even more”

Hugo Ekitike stating that as a French player, he was already thinking he would prefer to go to PSG ahead of Newcastle United (or anywhere else) but was waiting to speak to Luis Campos. Hugo Ekitike saying that he had to wait for that appointment to speak to Campos, before he could then make a decision on his future, back in summer 2022.

Luis Campos only joined PSG on 10 June 2022 as their new football adviser, in charge of ‘organisation, recruitment and performance’ at the French club. So  basically, Hugo Ekitike and his agents knowing that Luis Campos was coming in to take charge of recruitment at PSG and nothing able to be done until that happened.

There was also talk of PSG having to wait until the new financial year (after 30 June 2022) before signing anybody and they made their first two signings on 1 July 2022, midfielder Vitinha and left back Nuno Mendes. Hugo Ekitike then announced on 16 July.

Having to wait his turn in the scheme of things, very likely that it was into July by the time Luis Campos was meeting him, a few weeks after starting his new job.

The previous decade had seen PSG win eight league titles, the only exceptions in that time were Monaco in 2016/17 and Lille in 2020/21. Luis Campos was the Sporting Director who recruited and built the teams at both of those other clubs, one of his key signings at Lille was Sven Botman, brought in for around £6m in summer 2020 as a 20 year old and a key player in that title winning team.

Hugo Ekitike saying back in July 2022 that if PSG hadn’t wanted to sign him, then he would have been happy to accept Newcastle’s offer and move to St James’ Park.