The Sunday Sun are reporting today that Newcastle are prepared to pay £7M for Real Madrid’s Brazilian star Julio Baptista.
Julio Baptista – Newcastle prepared to pay £7M?
After hearing Kevin talk today about what he needs it doesn’t appear to us that he wants many midfield players or strikers, so it would surprise us if this story is true,
Link that with the fact that Real Madrid are said to want closer to £12M for the former Arsenal loan star, and we’re pretty sure he will not be coming to Newcastle United.
There are a lot better things we think Newcastle can do with £7M than bring in Baptista, who was hardly a success when on loan at Arsenal.
Roma are also said to be on Baptista’s trail, and Real Madrid are hoping there will be a bidding war between the clubs.
But we’d be very surprised if Newcastle would go anywhere near £12M for the Brazilian.
The 26-year-old performed only reasonably well at best, while on loan at Arsenal in the 2006/2007Â season and again – we’d be very surprised if this story has any truth in it – at all.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
208 comments so far
Tom_Toon
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Comment #1He complained about english football and the weather, so its a no go.
But on his day, mainly for Brazil or in Spain he is immense.
figsdad
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:02 PM
Comment #2nooo didnt do nowt at arsenal and for 7mil
keegan said in interview there going to be defenders coming in..
Matt
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Comment #3Spanish papers say we put in an official bid Tuesday night.
http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20080723/noticia_53505415902.html
toonoot
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Comment #4Nuts? Let’s ‘ave ‘im!
toonoot
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:08 PM
Comment #5The weather’s OK the day mind
the lensta SMB
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Comment #6im getting bored with all this optimism i wish i felt it was based on something but lets face it MA is not giving KK much and hence we havent signed anyone of note,saying things are slow and everyones waiting for things to happen is bull,look at the yids and pompey they always get there players we just seem to court players we are not decisive not like the old days under the messiah,i for one will never set foot in the ground again if fatboy loses keegan through lack of backing after all weve waited 12 yrs for him to come back and we will only get 1 shot at this it will be criminal if we dont have a proper go this time,please god let me be wrong but i fear the worst
Vitorbarbosa
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:18 PM
Comment #7Anyhow, we need a striker, unless Smith and Ameobi can play better than what they did previously.
Baptista might not our first choice, but he is big and strong. But this might just another paper talk.
sirjasontoon
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Comment #8On behalf of black and White Blood..how old is he again?
Joking aside maybe worth a punt.
Allman20
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Comment #9£7 can go on alot better quality players at the moment, i’d much rather seb larsson come in for this sort of money. Under keegan i feel he could really shine, he was probably the brum’s best player last season, maybe bar zarate and could sit very well in our midfield. We should get him in and at least two defenders, out top priority being a LB and maybe someone who could play in multiple positions in the defence. Maybe look at the young swiss striker (sorry can’t remeber his name)we were going to bring in, he could be our ‘big’ striker when viduka’s not available. He looks top when ever ive seen him.
beye the great
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Comment #10i think he is quite good and also i thought his best position WAS striker considering that a few years ago he got top scorer
seetow
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Comment #11awesome guy to have! he’s just like smith, just a thousand times better. can play in midfield and up front, and most importantly, scores goals! would be a steal at 7mil imo.
gorskino10
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Comment #12thankfully he has a big ego so he won’t join us even if kk was stupid enough to bid for him.
Terrence
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Comment #13What gets me is this obsession that people call him an attacking midfielder!!! In Brazil/Spain he was a centre half who would, when required play the holding midfield role…an injury crisis at Seville meant he was used as an emergency centre forward where he proved with his aerial ability a nuisance to the Spanish defences. This prompted Real Madrid to buy him. With him not needed in attack nor defence and paying big money they had to fit him into the midfield. This is where Wenger signed him and for some bizarre reason never used him to his potential in his proven positions. Yes, he seemed slow for a ‘creative’ midfielder…would you ask Steve Howey or a David Batty to play an attacking midfield role? FFS!!!! AAAARGGH had to get that off my chest!!
As for someone saying they’d rather have a Championship player who struggles to get into the Swedish squad ahead of a Brazilian international there’s only one thing to say…HAHAHAHAHAHA
sirjasontoon
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Comment #14Allman..my best mate is a blues season ticket holder and larrson is not that great to be honest-great set piece taker but can’t beat people..we need a player that can beat players and supply balls to the strikers as well.
Allman20
Jul 27, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Comment #15sirjasontoon- Fair bang son, my bro is a fan aswell and he saw em quite a few times last season. I feel he would be a player of worthy of breaking into our first team. One of the best players that has been linked with us recently is Inler, why don’t we just stop pussy footing around and spend some real money or a player who would obviously do well here.
Shearer#1
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Comment #16No thanks. Everton are close to signing Joao Moutinho according to Setanta. Gutted!!!! He would have been perfect for us.
Chris
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:02 PM
Comment #17Baptista would be a great signing for £7m. He was underrated at Arsenal. Just look at that Carling cup match with Liverpool (I think).
liamtoonbirchy
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Comment #18good player but rather had skjelbred and inler for our midfield. then warnock and collocini for defence and derdiyok to be tutored by viduka.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #19lads the beast is i good player,when he went to the arse he was hardly used.but 7 mill ashley wont pay that.
Hadji
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:16 PM
Comment #20If they can agree a fee of 9mill i think we should go for it.He’s similar mentality like Elmander,he wants to be the big fish in the small pond.
Now,i’m not saying we’re small but atm we’re so far away from Roma,not to mention Real.
He’d fit perfect in our team cos he’ll have his place in the starting 11 every week.
valle
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:17 PM
Comment #21If Everton indeed does buy Moutinho, then we should put in a bid for Arteta… Would be great for us i think.
AndyNUFC
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:20 PM
Comment #22Forget Wise, forget Jimenez, Ashley; give Keegan £35 million and watch us prosper.
Alex
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Comment #23Arteta would be great but could not see it happening .Everton would not let him go.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:23 PM
Comment #24lads is gazza coming back to the toon on a coaching roll,if so great best news of the summer
Hadji
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Comment #25I trully believe if KK was given 60mill this summer that we would finish at least 5th next season.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Comment #26hadji the raji your dreaming
dontoon
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:27 PM
Comment #27http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2008/07/27/newcastle-season-tickets-sales-slump-as-toon-crisis-deepens-115875-20673758/
Allman20
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #28No big money cheques are gonna be handed to KK this season, the best thing to happen to this club would be if Ashley f*cked off and sold the club so someone passionate about the club, Mr Shepard we forgive you, please come back!!!!
Bill F SPLASH THE CASH ASH
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Comment #29Saw a headline in the local shop that Gazza is getting back with his missus, he probably needs a stabilising factor in his life. Wouldn’t hurt the club to give him some sort of coaching role providing it doesn’t effect MA’s budget.
Dave
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:30 PM
Comment #30Gazza has been offered a coaching role, but is concerned about the commute from Hertfordshire. (That’s where I think it was anyway)
Alex
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:34 PM
Comment #31Hitman Gazza coming back to the Toon as coach ? dont think so somehow. Then again maybe to advise Barton how to stay on the straight and narrow 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hadji
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:35 PM
Comment #32Hitman….With 60 mill we could get 4 top class players.For sure we’dd finish 5th at least.But then again who am i fooling…its MA we’re talkin about.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:36 PM
Comment #33herd from one of me mates in liverpool the day if DIC carnt get the deal done with liverpool they will turn there sights on the toon might be shite like but sounds good.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:39 PM
Comment #34hadji you carnt get 4 top players on £400000 a week.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:40 PM
Comment #35alex bang oot of order
valle
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:51 PM
Comment #36nah, there is a reason why he would make that joke. Nothing out of order with what he wrote…
smithy
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:53 PM
Comment #37apart from defenders inler is the way to go
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Comment #38valle gazza is a legend on tyneside,he has so much to offer as long as he can stay off the drink.
Taiwantoon
Jul 27, 2008 at 5:03 PM
Comment #39Why Gazza as coach? Nothing against him, but he certainly isn’t the best role model for our younger players.
hitman
Jul 27, 2008 at 5:05 PM
Comment #40i guess barton is then