MATTY LONGSTAFF has opened up about rejecting a “weird” transfer offer from Serie A side Udinese before being released by Newcastle.
Longstaff, 23, is a boyhood Newcastle fan and says he “lived the dream” after breaking into the Magpies’ first team.
The midfielder started his Newcastle career with a bang in October 2019 when he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United.
Despite earning just £850-a-week when breaking into the Toon first team, his excellent initial form soon saw Europe’s big boys sniffing around for his signature.
Manchester United were the first of the big clubs linked, with Italian giants Inter Milan also joining the race for the midfielder’s signature.
Despite making a great start to life in a Newcastle shirt, Longstaff soon found himself dropping down the pecking order behind the likes of Joelinton and his brother Sean, 25.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Loans to Aberdeen and League Two sides Mansfield and Colchester United soon followed before Matty was released this summer.
Speaking to SportBible about his rise and current situation, Matty said: “Out of nowhere, you suddenly become this hot thing and everyone’s talking about you, making offers or seeing whether you’re interested.
“It was a weird one, really. I went from playing U23’s football to having clubs from all around the world trying to sign me.”
When his £850-a-week development contract ran out, Matty still had attractive offers from the likes of Udinese and Marseille.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
But he says the global situation owing to Covid-19 played a factor in him not taking a move overseas.
He said: “A few teams were sniffing around. Udinese was a deal that got offered but again, it was a weird one.
“At the end of that season, there was Covid. The world just stopped. You never really knew what was going to happen.
“I was in the middle of negotiating contracts. My heart was at Newcastle, though.
“After what I’d just done, there was no way I wanted to leave but Udinese made an offer. We spoke to them but with the pandemic and everything going on, it was a strange time.
“I spoke to other teams but when your heart is with a club, and you’re still so young, I just didn’t see beyond Newcastle. You think it’s going stay like that.”
After committing his future to Newcastle, Longstaff began to struggle for form and fitness.
His loan at Colchester United last season was cut short when the midfielder damaged his ACL on Boxing Day – and is still completing his rehabilitation with Newcastle despite not having a club.
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS AND BONUSES NEW CUSTOMERS
“You go from being at the top to the bottom,” said Matty. “I guess me and Sean have both experienced that.
“When Sean first came through at Newcastle, he was flying. He was being talked about everywhere and then suddenly he was at the bottom and that was similar to me.
“I came through, did really well and then I was sent out on loan before ending up down at the bottom.
“It’s football. It’s just one of those things. You have your highs and lows.
“When I was breaking through, I was at the top and at the minute, I’m probably at the bottom with the injury and things but I guess when you’re there, there’s only one place you can go.
“I’m really motivated to get back. I want to be a top player.”
Despite being released by Newcastle this summer, the club have allowed him to stay around and get back to full fitness following his injury.
The midfielder said: “The club have been unbelievable with me throughout.
“They have allowed me to stay around the place to do all my rehab, which means I’ve got top physios looking after me every day. If I need extra help on the pitch, the staff will always be there.
Read More on The Sun
“They’ll often ask how I’m getting on mentally, as well, and still treat me like I’m one of their players.
“It just shows how good they are as human beings. They’ve all played the game and had injuries. They know what it’s like.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
