Newcastle midfielder Mo Diame says that manager Rafa Benitez was the crucial factor as to why he decided to move down a level to play for the Magpies in the Championship.
The Senegalese international had been relegated from the Premier League with Hull City in the 2014/15 season and was crucial to the Tigers regaining promotion through the playoffs last campaign, scoring 10 goals and providing 4 assists.
Speaking to the Shields Gazette, Diame explained he was determined to get back playing at the highest level in the Premier League with Hull, but a phone call from Magpies boss Benitez changed his outlook. He feels that Newcastle have better long term prospects than Hull and Benitez was integral to his change of heart and moving back down to the second tier of English football:
“To be honest, everyone close to me knows I was desperate to play in the Premier League. To achieve this with Hull was a massive thing for me. But when Rafa Benitez called me, I had to think about it. This is what I did. I had to think about where I want to be in two or three years. I took this decision, and I think I made the right choice.”
Newcastle met Diame’s release clause of £4.5million, signing in early August, and he will no doubt play a critical role in Newcastle’s promotion push this campaign.
