Ex-Mag set for NUFC return - Reveals Bruce disagreement and ASM ambition ahead of SJP friendly
Florian Lejeune will be back on Tyneside this weekend, with the former Toon centre-back expected to feature in our mid-season friendly against Rayo Vallecano at St James' Park.
After Rafa Benitez signed him from Eibar in 2017, the Frenchman joined Alaves 18 months ago and is currently on loan at Rayo; who currently sit 8th in La Liga.
Ahead of Saturday's 12.30pm kick off, Lejeune has been speaking to The Chronicle about his time at the club, discussing the man who oversaw his exit, Allan Saint-Maximin's huge potential and the fact he was never able to say goodbye before returning to Spain.
Starting with Steve Bruce, here's what the big man had to say on the former Toon boss - admitting he and the unpopular 61-year-old "didn't share the same vision" in football:
“It was all the more difficult for me personally because I knew that I was more than capable of being a big part of the team.
"But, unfortunately, with the manager [Steve Bruce] in place at the time, it was clear that I was not in his plans and we didn’t share the same vision of the game.”
Asked about Allan Saint-Maximin, the former Alaves man claimed he will "end up playing for a very big club" - a comment that hasn't gone down too well on Tyneside - although he believes he's currently "very happy" at Newcastle:
"We all know Allan and the talent he has - he’s quite simply fantastic. I am sure that one day he will end up playing for a very big club - any club he decides to choose as he is someone who is full of ambition - but I sense he is very happy at Newcastle.
"He is much-loved and is clearly very important for the team. What’s more, with the new plans for the club, that could also play in his favour.
"He is going through a little bit of a tough spell as he is just returning after having had an injury, but I am sure in the second half of the season we will get to see the real Allan."
Lejeune then revealed how he never got a chance to say goodbye following his exit in the summer of 2021, meaning Saturday is a second chance to say thank you to staff, players and supporters he loved working with during his time on Tyneside:
“Unfortunately, I never really had a proper chance to say goodbye to them there so I sincerely hope I’ll get a chance to do it this week.
"I also really want to thank everyone for all of the great support I received for so many years, whether this was after each game or even when I was suffering from injury.
"I received a lot of messages and I really do want to be able to thank everyone.
“It is a friendly game but one which is brimming in emotion, full of pleasure and a host of other feelings for me as it will be great to catch up with some former team-mates with whom we spent some great times together. We shared a lot of laughs and lots of memories together."
