Martin Dubravka is Newcastle’s first signing of the summer, and the Slovakian goalkeeper signed a four-year deal with the transfer fee being a bargain £4M.
It was a few weeks after the season ended so the 29-year-old wasn’t exactly sure it was going to happen.
And in his interview on nufcTV Dubravka has said it was Rafa Benitez himself who informed him of the deal via a text.
That was a day before the deal was announced by the club.
That was a nice touch coming from Rafa, and we can only imagine how delighted Martin was when he got the message.
Rafa Benitez congratulates Martin Dubravka after his magnificent debut against Man United
This is some of what he has said in his nufcTV interview:
“He (Benitez) sent me a message one day before the official news came out so he told me that the next day it would happen.”
“I was pleased that he told me before because then I had a lot of calls and messages to answer once it happens, so it was good to know this answer from him.”
“Once he sent me the message, I knew it was happening rather than it coming all of a sudden. So I’m happy.”
“It’s amazing to be wanted by him. He’s amazing, he’s the boss and he’s a very important person.”
“Everybody knows how important he is, everybody in Newcastle wants him to stay as long as is possible.”
“My team-mates and myself also want him to stay in Newcastle.”
“Since I came he tried to explain to me what he expects from me. He helped me a lot from the very beginning and I am looking forward to working with him.”
“Simon Smith (goalkeeper coach) and all the players and all the staff. They are on the top level.”
“I was very happy because I had to be ready for the national-team games as we had two international games and I had to be ready for that.
“But I wanted to know about my future.”
“I got a lot of information that was supposed to be on the contract, but it wasn’t, so until the last moment I was waiting for confirmation – and then suddenly it happened.”
“So I’m glad that I could be ready for the games for my national team in my mind and now I’m looking forward to going back again to meet up with my Newcastle team-mates.”
“I just tried to do my best, show myself in the games and give everything for my team-mates, for the clubs, and for the fans.”
“They are supporting us in every game. I am happy – I am very happy.”
Dubravka is on International duty with Slovakia, and he had a great game against the Netherlands in the 1-1 draw.
There was another friendly last night with Slovakia losing 2-1 against Morocco, but it appears that Dubravka did not play in that game.
There is uncertainty about something every summer at Newcastle and for the third summer running it’s about whether Rafa Benitez will be staying at the club.
Comment are welcome.
9 comments so far
Bobbybee
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:15 AM
Comment #1Great signing and at such a low cost. When you read what Liverpool are contemplating spending on a keeper it makes you realise what a bargain we got here.
Jail for Ashley
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:26 AM
Comment #2Bobby,
What with me being a “footy” know nowt, I simply don’t understand football valuations, why is Sissoko valued at 30M and Diame 5M? On the strength of three good games at the Euros.
DubaiMicky
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:28 AM
Comment #3From last thread (169)
Jib, maybe Guardiola went to the Ron Atkinson school of charm (Marcel Desailly (alleged) comment).
Bobbybee
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Comment #4Jail, no idea mate!!! A player is worth what a club is prepared to pay for him. City pay stupid prices, because money is no object and FFP only appears to apply to smaller clubs, and in that way guarantee a club will sell.
How prices are worked out is a mystery.
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:31 AM
Comment #5Jail…it’s down to supply and demand and nationality at times as well!
A WC or a EC always drags the price up ridiculously!
On that note how’s Kenedy a £20M player? He isn’t but the supply and demand factor says he is…
It most certainly doesn’t make sense…
jesperfuglsang - capt'n awesome of the lemon crew
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Comment #6And as Bobby says if a club really wants a player the selling club sets the price…
The homegrown rule in the UK has a negative effect on the prices…they get inflated! That’s why you almost never see a Brit playing abroad (it happens of course)
RobLeenio
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:40 AM
Comment #7Jesper, I agree Kenedy isn;t a £20M player…. yet.
I think clubs are paying over the odds for potential and future sell-on value, rather than concentrating on the here and now. The transfer market is ridiculous, for sure, for a number of reasons.
British players have always been more expensive than their counterparts from abroad, which is why there is a glut of foreign players in the Prem and why so many young English players never get a chance to progress with their home town teams. I could talk about this all day…..
Jib
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:46 AM
Comment #8I don’t think the home-grown rule (which only applies to the PL)
is why you don’t see many English abroad playing footy.
Any English Championship player could walk into most Scandinavian
top division teams for example.
You hardly see them in Scotland or Wales either
They opt to stay in England because it’s better
😛
magic hat
Jun 5, 2018 at 9:49 AM
Comment #9The home grown player rule states that 8 of 25 squad must be trained in England for some years before turning 21. This inflates the value of english players. The rules on work permits state non eu players have to be full internationals. So eu players are often worth more. Some players have eu citizenship and play for non eu countries. So are just as valuable. However those that play for African nations are less valuable as they play the African cup mid season so aren’t always available. If the African cup happened in summer during the break maybe on the off year things would be much better for African players. I think age is a big factor in the sissoko vs diame valuation. To begin with I thought diame was a poor mans sissoko and was obviously bought to replace him. Now it looks like diame is a far better player with a much better temperament!