Former Newcastle United winger Jonas Gutierrez has suggested that joining the Magpies in 2008 was the best decision of his life, and claimed that he found about the Toon Army by watching movies.
The Argentine spent seven years on Tyneside, and despite eventually suing the club for disability discrimination after being dropped as a result of his battle with testicular cancer, has no regrets over his time in the north east.
Speaking to Planet Football, he said: “As a young boy, I used to get up early to watch English football, and it was my dream to play for one of those teams.
“I knew Newcastle because of the film “Goal!” with Santiago Munez, and also because of Daniel Cordone and Christian Bassedas, who were playing there and had been at my team in Argentina, Valez Sarsfield.
“I had the opportunity to move to Portsmouth the previous January, but Mallorca didn’t want me to go.
“It was hard at the time because I loved the Premier League, but then I moved to Newcastle, and after what I did there, I have to say it was the best decision of my life.”
OPINION
Despite everything that he went through off the pitch, and despite the bitter note that his spell in Tyneside ended, the fact that Gutierrez still speaks highly of the club is a testament to how wonderful a place Newcastle can be for a player. Fans still remember the midfielder fondly, and he brought a real work ethic and moxie to the team for the duration of his spell in the north east. As trivial as it may sound, the fact that Gutierrez came across the club through a film shows just how much of a sleeping giant it is, one that is known around the world, and one that still acts as a flag flyer for the English game all across the globe. There have been dark times at Newcastle recently, but Gutierrez’s comments illustrate how, given the right care and attention, Newcastle could still be a huge, huge deal.
