NEWCASTLE UNITED’S Saudi takeover has been CONFIRMED
The new Saudi owners have been given the all-clear by the Premier League after resolving a brutal dispute which saw Qatar-based beIN Sports have its feed across the Middle East hijacked.
And the takeover looks set to spell the end of Steve Bruce’s time as Toon boss.
With the buyout announced, SunSport has also taken a look at the players the new owners could bring in, including Gareth Bale.
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MIKE ASHLEY EXCLUSIVE
Mike Ashley has exclusively revealed to SunSport that he DID put the club first, even ahead of his own financial interests — and even at the 11th and final hour of his drawn-out reign.
Ashley said: “I would like it to be known that I received a higher offer for the club than the one that I accepted.
“It was from another reputable bidder, who made a credible case.
“But I felt the bid that we accepted from the current new owners would deliver the best for Newcastle United.
“Money wasn’t my only consideration. There were times when I stepped in financially to keep Newcastle United afloat.
“We ensured the wage bills were paid when we went down in order that we could bounce straight back up.
“Nobody was happier than me when we achieved immediate promotion.”
JENAS HOPE
Jermaine Jenas reckons Newcastle’s new owners can restore the glory days to the club.
The Magpies were taken over by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £300million and Jenas can’t wait to see the club return to the summit of English football.
The ex-Toon star claims it’s what the fans deserve after watching Newcastle’s dismal decline from Premier League big wigs to also-rans over the past decade.
Jenas told 5Live: “That club is one of the biggest clubs in this country.
“They’re one of the great teams and have one of the best and biggest fanbases and they deserve more than what they’ve been getting so fingers crossed it gets over the line.”
CUT BRUCE LOOSE?
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce took training with his squad on Thursday amid growing uncertainty over his job after the club’s Saudi takeover.
The 60-year-old, who has been in charge of the Magpies since July 2019, was already the bookies’ favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked.
But Bruce appeared upbeat while taking charge of Newcastle’s training session as his side continue their search for a first Premier League win of the season.
The Toon Army currently sit 19th in the table with just three points from their opening seven games.
And, while Bruce remains hopeful he can turn things around, he admitted prior to their most recent loss that if the bad feeling around the club began to affect the players then he would start to consider his own position.
STEVE SUPPORT
Amanda Staveley has come up out in support for Steve Bruce following Newcastle’s £300million Saudi takeover.
Staveley successfully led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium in their bid to take over of the Magpies after years of wrangling.
And now the Magpies have new owners, rumours have been rife that under-fire manager Steve Bruce is about to get the boot from the Toon dugout.
But Staveley claims that’s not the case and said Bruce has the full backing of the club’s new chiefs.
She said, reported by The Guardian: “We are very supporting of Steve. We have spoken to him. What we are going to do is not talk about managers, not talk about signings we can make at the moment.”
MAN DOWN
Manchester United fans are feeling glum after Newcastle announced their £300million Saudi takeover.
United haven’t won the Premier League since 2013, and some fans reckon their wait for the trophy will be extended now the Magpies are flushed with cash.
The depressed United faithful took to Twitter to vent their frustrations over potentially being leapfrogged by Newcastle in the race for silverware.
One fan moaned: “Newcastle United winning the league title before Manchester United is an absolute possibility now and that is a very depressing thought.”
While another said: “Newcastle will probably win the league before we do at this rate. #mufc.”
PREM APPROVAL
The Premier League have revealed why they finally allowed Newcastle United’s £300m Saudi takeover go through.
The Saudi Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund brought the Magpies off of ex-owner Mike Ashley after years of a bitter legal dispute.
But the Prem bosses explained they decided to give the Saudi takeover the green light when it became clear they won’t own the club.
A prem statement read: “All parties have agreed the settlement is necessary to end the long uncertainty for fans over the club’s ownership.
“The Premier League has now received legally binding assurances that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will not control Newcastle United Football Club.
“All parties are pleased to have concluded this process which gives certainty and clarity to Newcastle United Football Club and their fans.”
MAGPIE JAMIE
Newcastle’s takeover has finally been completed after an eternity of waiting.
Saudi Yasir Al-Rumayyan will act as chairman and will be accompanied by Amanda Staveley and the lesser-known Jamie Reuben.
Jamie Reuben was born in 1987 in Mumbai, India to billionaire property investor David Reuben.
He already has plenty of experience in football, having sat on the QPR board between 2018 and 2020.
When he left, QPR chairman Amit Bhatia said: “Jamie has been a fantastic addition to the QPR Board over the past two years.
“He has helped us tremendously in a number of different areas and I speak on behalf of my fellow shareholders when I thank him whole-heartedly for his efforts while he was with us.”
Credit: Reuters TICKET CHAOS
Newcastle fans are queueing in their thousands to try and grab a ticket for their club’s next home game following the Toon’s Saudi takeover.
The Magpies face Tottenham later this month and it’s a game none of the Toon Army want to miss.
But fans have had trouble getting a ticket as thousands flocked to Newcastle’s website with the same thing in mind.
The Express reported that supporters have been in a queue for half-hour online trying to get a ticket.
SHEAR WILL
Alan Shearer claims Newcastle “can dare to hope again” after the Saudi-backed takeover of the club was completed.
Geordie legend Shearer has felt the club’s dismal decline over the years under former owner Mike Ashley’s leadership.
But following the takeover Shearer tweeted: “Yesssssssss. We can dare to hope again.”
Credit: PA
GEORDIE JOY
Newcastle United fans are celebrating outside St James’ Park following Mike Ashley’s sale of the club.
The Magpies have been taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, who will own 80 per cent of the North East outfit.
The deal brings an end to Ashley’s 14-year spell as owner of Newcastle, much of which has been clouded by opposition from fans.
And the supporters showed how they felt about the takeover immediately after it was confirmed by celebrating outside the stadium and on the streets.
The takeover means Newcastle now have the richest owners in football as they are worth a reported £320billion.
SING A NEW TOON
The Saudis are coming to Toon and will transform Newcastle from into the richest club in the world in a flash.
Simply not being Mike Ashley is enough in itself to get the fans on board.
But after 14 years of Ashley there is a ton of work to do to turn around this sinking ship.
The Saudi billions provide unlimited potential, but money won’t change everything.
Here are seven things the new owners need to address immediately to hit the ground running and get the Magpies firing.
- FIND A NEW MANAGER
- START SQUAD OVERHAUL IN JANUARY
- SECURE SAINT-MAXIMIN
- IMPROVE ACADEMY & TRAINING FACILITIES
- BRING IN LEGENDS LIKE KEEGAN & SHEARER
- REMOVE SPORTS DIRECT ADVERTISING
- ENGAGE WITH FANS
BIG AL
Newcastle United’s Saudi takeover has been completed.
But what is known about their new chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan?
Yasir Al-Rumayyan was born in 1970 and graduated from King Faisal University in 1993. He later completed a general management programme at Harvard Business School.
Al-Rumayyan, 51, is governor of the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) who along with Amanda Staveley of PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers, have completed the Magpies purchase.
Al-Rumayyan is also chairman of the board of Saudi Aramco, the biggest oil company in the world.
The PIF group are believed to be worth a staggering £260BILLION, and have offices in London, New York and San Francisco.
BRUCE-D EGO
Steve Bruce could be on his way out of Newcastle following the club’s £300m Saudi takeover that was announced today.
Bookies have already started offering odds on who will replace Bruce at St.James’ Park.
Aside from comedic pair Ant and Dec, more serious contenders include
Eddie Howe the current favourite at 7/4.
With significant funds expected to be injected and high-profile transfers now within reach – Antonio Conte has come flying into contention at 9/2.
Chris Wilder and Graeme Jones are locked together at 5/1.
Rafa Benitez is available at 9/1 for a sensational return Tyneside, while Frank Lampard and Roberto Martinez share odds of 10/1.
Jose Mourinho and Steven Gerrard are priced at 14s with Unai Emery further back at 16/1.
RI-DEC-ULOUS
Ant and Dec are in the running to become Newcastle’s next managerial duo (kind of).
That’s right – the iconic television duo could swap Saturday Night Takeaway for Match of the Day with the pair priced at 250/1 to replace Steve Bruce at St James’ Park!
The Toon’s newly confirmed Saudi takeover has ended Mike Ashley’s 14-year ownership, teeing up a significant cash windfall with the consortium’s total wealth dwarfing that of Manchester City and PSG combined.
And without Ashley in his corner – current Toon boss Bruce could well become the first casualty of a new era on Tyneside.
Aside from Ant and Dec, there are a few more serious contenders for the role such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
NEW ERA
Amanda Staveley has revealed her excitement after finally spearheading the takeover of Newcastle United.
The 48-year-old has led the Saudi Arabia-backed consortium to the takeover of the Magpies since 2017.
And after much wrangling, the mega-connected businesswoman has finally been successful after the £300million deal was given the go-ahead.
Staveley, Chief Executive Officer of PCP Capital Partners, said: “This is a long-term investment. We are excited about the future prospects for Newcastle United.
“We intend to instill a united philosophy across the Club, establish a clear purpose, and help provide leadership that will allow Newcastle United to go on to big achievements over the long term.
“Our ambition is aligned with the fans – to create a consistently successful team that’s regularly competing for major trophies and generates pride across the globe.”
TOON ARMY
Newcastle United fans celebrate the sale of the club to the Consortium of Amanda Stavely, Jamie Rueben and PIF Scenes at St. James’s Park, Newcastle as news of a takeover emerges on Thursday 7th October 2021.
Credit: Alamy OVER THE TOON
Newcastle’s £300million Saudi takeover has been CONFIRMED – with Mike Ashley gone and Steve Bruce facing the axe.
The deal has been rubber-stamped by the Premier League, bringing an end to Ashley’s 14-year reign and transforming the Magpies into the richest club in the world.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will own 80 per cent, with the billionaire Reuben brothers and financier Amanda Staveley taking 10 per cent each.
Unpopular manager Steve Bruce is now set for the axe with the new owners wanting a fresh start as Newcastle sit 19th in the table.
In a flash, the Toon now have the wealthiest owners in world football – worth a staggering £320BILLION – dwarfing the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
SARD DEAL
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a swoop for Zenit Saint-Petersburg star Sardar Azmoun as a replacement for Alexandre Lacazette.
Lacazette’s contract is coming to an end and the Gunners reckon Azmoun can fill his boots, according to Sports Witness.
The Iranian 19-year-old striker has already scored six times in 12 games this season for Zenit, so he’ll bring plenty of firepower to The Emirates.
However, the North London side face stiff competition from Italian clubs AC Milan and Roma, who Witness claim are also interested in Azmoun.
PREM ACE BAILED
Brighton ace Yves Bissouma has been bailed after being arrested and marched out of a nightclub in the early hours of yesterday.
The in-form Brighton midfielder, 25, spent the day in custody after being arrested in the city.
Shocked revellers told how they saw Premier League ace Bissouma being marched out of a packed nightclub in handcuffs by police officers.
Sussex Police today confirmed a man in his 20s and a man in his 40s had been released after the arrest on October 6.
A spokesperson said: “A man in his 40s and a man in his 20s, both from Brighton, were arrested and have been released on conditional bail until November 3 while enquiries continue.”
RAM OUT
Aaron Ramsey will reportedly be put on the transfer list by Juventus in Jauary due to his whopping wages.
The Welsh midfielder has cost the Serie A giants a staggering £4,000 per minute since he arrived from Arsenal in 2019, which has risen to just over £11,000 this season, according to Calciomercato.
Calciomercato also claim the eye-watering amount Juve have to pay the 30-year-old ex-Gunner every sixty seconds works out to be a yearly sum of £6.8million.
And Massimiliano Allegri’s side aren’t willing to continue forking out such a hefty figure to a player who’s only racked up a meagre 68 appearances in all competitions since his arrival.
Ramsey hasn’t fared much better this season, making just two Serie A starts and one in the Champions League for the Bianconeri.
Ramsey still has two years on his contract with Juve, and they’re even willing to let him go for free to balance the books.
MO WAY
PSG are considering a shock bid for Liverpool ace Mo Salah, according to reports.
The French giants are reportedly prepared to reignite their summer interest and land the Egyptian as a replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
The Egyptian is out of contract in 2023 and is reportedly demanding up to £380,000-a-week to extend his Anfield stay.
Salah, 29, is looking for wages that would make him the Reds’ highest earner.
But PSG are ready to swoop and take him to Paris if Mbappe leaves, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He told Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel: “From what I am told, PSG were studying the possibility of recruiting Salah early in the summer, in June, if Mbappe was sold to Real Madrid.
“They were prepared to do something big, and they wanted to try it out with Salah.”
SACK RACE
Steve Bruce’s tenure as Newcastle manager is drawing towards a conclusion.
That’s according to Sky Bet, who’ve made Bruce odds-on favourite to be the second Premier League manager sent packing this season.
The Toon boss was available at 3/1 at the beginning of the week.
But that price has crashed to odds-on 1/3 as the club’s long-awaited Saudi takeover inches towards completion.
A long-standing row over TV piracy has been resolved, bringing an end to 18 months of deadlock after Mike Ashley initially agreed to sell in April 2020.
The Saudi-led consortium will have an 80 per cent controlling stake and with Ashley out of the picture – Bruce could be the first casualty of a new era on Tyneside.
AUR WRONG
Serge Aurier would NEVER sign for Arsenal because he has ‘too much respect’ for his former club Spurs.
The Ivory Coast right-back joined LaLiga side Villarreal this week, having been a free agent since terminating his Tottenham deal by mutual consent.
He wrote on Instagram: “I have never seen myself at another club in England!
“I didn’t see myself joining the enemy because I have too much respect for our club, for our history and for all our moments shared together.”
Aurier was linked with a move across North London but instead opted to reunite with Unai Emery after working with the former Gunners boss at Paris Saint-Germain.
SAUDI STING
Amnesty International demanded the Premier League “overhaul their standards” regarding human rights after the Saudi takeover of Newcastle.
The £300million leaves the Saudi Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, owning 80 per cent of the Magpies.
Bin Salman has been implicated in approving the 2018 murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Human rights organisation Amnesty international stated the deal was an attempt to “sportswash their appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football.”
And CEO Sacha Deshmukh said: “Instead of allowing those implicated in serious human rights violations to walk into English football simply because they have deep pockets, we’ve urged the Premier League to change their owners’ and directors’ test to address human rights issues.
“The phrase ‘human rights’ doesn’t even appear in the owners’ and directors’ test despite English football supposedly adhering to Fifa standards.
“As with Formula One, elite boxing, golf or tennis, an association with top-tier football is a very attractive means of rebranding a country or person with a tarnished reputation.
“The Premier League needs to better understand the dynamic of sportswashing and tighten its ownership rules.”
STER IT UP
Raheem Sterling will reject any bids to sign England star Raheem Sterling in January.
And the champions remain focused on persuading the 26-year-old to sign a new deal.
Sterling has less than two years on his contract and talks over a fresh one are on hold.
That has put a big question mark over his long-term future at City, where he has been for six years.
SunSport reported on Tuesday that Barcelona are monitoring the situation and could make a cheeky loan bid in the new year.
The hard-up Catalan giants know Sterling has expressed an interest in playing in Spain at some point in his career and hope that could tip the balance in their favour.
Anything they come up with will be knocked back by City though.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
