Just got back from taking the dog for his morning walk and a visit to Starbucks with my son and see that we’ve signed 23-year-old Antonio Barreca on loan from Monaco.
That’s great news.
He’s joined on loan through the end of the season and will offer some good competition to Paul Dummett and will give the manager some additional options on the left side.
There is an option to buy him at the end of the season in the loan contract.
Rafa Benitez with new signing Antonio Barreca
This is some of what was announced by Newcastle today on their website:
Barreca, 23, is a left-back who progressed through the ranks at Torino to become an established starter in Serie A.
He joined Monaco last summer, but the French club have endured a difficult season in Ligue 1 and Rafa Benítez has moved to bring him to St. James’ Park for the remainder of the campaign.
This is what Rafa Benitez has said about the player:
“The left-back/left-wing-back position is one we’ve been looking to strengthen for a while.”
“And he’s an Italy U-21 international who we know has quality, good delivery and is good going forward.”
“He has the attributes, he has the quality and he has the characteristics that we look for.”
“Now we must see how quickly he can adapt, but we will try to help him and if he can give us more competition in this area, and more quality in the final third with his deliveries.”
“The only thing I can see is a positive.”
And finally, this is what Antonio has said on nufcTV:
“I am very happy to be here. I have accepted this challenge with a great deal of enthusiasm and I can’t wait to start.”
“I know that Newcastle is a big and historic club. I know that the people here really love football and that the fans are really behind the team.”
“I think that the Premier League is the best league, so for me, this is further motivation to do well.”
That’s the first signing this month on the very last day – but hopefully, there are at least three more signings today.
Antonio certainly has the right attitude and seems to want to learn from Rafa.
We hope he does well at Newcastle and becomes very successful on Tyneside.
Comments welcome.
27 comments so far
DubaiMicky
Jan 31, 2019 at 1:59 PM
Comment #11 down, 3 to come…
Insh’allah – as they say around here.
toonluvva
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:01 PM
Comment #2Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Almiron.
HWTL
Hail Wor Ashley
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:02 PM
Comment #3Barreca done. Like the look of him, hopefully has more grit and end product than the last Italian left-back we had, who flattered to deceive and was a pansy. Think he will be. Like the look of him and I;m a good judge of defenders. Was banging on about Van Dijk when he was at Celtic and Robertson and Maguire when they were at Hull long before most were taking notice.
Would LOVE big Andy to be brought back in. Having him and Rondon as our target men competing for one spot, Cbs will have a rough time no matter who takes the field and playing in the B&W gives Carroll that bit more. Rafa’s medical team could sort out his injury issues.
A CM not really a concern should nobody leave. Reassess that one in the summer should we stay up.
________________Dubravka________________
_______Schar____Lascelles____Lejeune_______
Yedlin______________________________Barreca
____________Diame_____Longstaff
______Ritchie__________________Almiron
________________Rondon
Woodman, Fernandez, Clark, Dummett, Manquillo, Shelvey, Hayden, Ki, Atsu, MUTO, Perez, Carroll.
MAUTITOON
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:05 PM
Comment #4Now that we have some players been lined up and being signed,that RIO FERDINAND dark ‘prophecy’ seems to be doing my head; about buying players and them getting injured…..grrr.
ashleysmate
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #5Apologies if this is old news but anyone picked up on Ritchie wanting away?
Bobbybee
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:09 PM
Comment #6Toonluvva, Almiron deal done according to SSN. Just waiting for the official announcement from the club.
JP...from The Rock
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:10 PM
Comment #7The wait for the official announcement of Almiron is killing me. ANNOUNCE IT ALREADY! Geezzz.
Markaccus
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:10 PM
Comment #8_________dubravka
____schar___lasc___lejeune
yedlin__________________Barecca
______pick2______midfs
___________Miggy
_______rondon__muto
Thats what I’d like to see
Markaccus
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:12 PM
Comment #9Miggy unveiling at 2:30pm allegedly
Bobbybee
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:12 PM
Comment #10Right, bigger dilemma now. Need our lass to put my new pvn on my phone and then want to watch cricket on TV and deadline day on my phone. Be back when lunch comes round in the cricket. 🙂
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:13 PM
Comment #11@Marakaccus
like the look of that team the two centre mids are going to have to have some running power to cover for the full backs so Longstaff and Hayden are ideal at the moment 🙂
Ron Knee
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:15 PM
Comment #12All “done deals” so far in January:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/transfers
dig-n-dig22
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Comment #13Maybe Ritchie woke up this morning in bed with a horses head next to him.? We all know how persuasive Ashley can be.
Ron Knee
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:16 PM
Comment #14Mark
Lee Ryder
?Verified account @lee_ryder
3m3 minutes ago
Miguel Almiron to be unveiled by #nufc at 2.30pm
bettyswallocks
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:17 PM
Comment #15Ashley is looking to complete a back to back deal with Almiron can you believe. In other words he has a buyer already lined up to sell Almiron straight on before he’s even kicked a ball for us. . No wonder he sanctioned the bank loan greedy twat.
Mag :P
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:18 PM
Comment #16What a signing in miggy though. Bold statement from Ash.
SPRINGY
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:22 PM
Comment #17Mag 😛
What statement tho?…why the sudden signings?
carltoon
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:24 PM
Comment #18Bobby they extended the season ticket I think the year we went down.
Mag :P
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:26 PM
Comment #19Who knows.
It’s very unlike him springy.
Dragon64
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:31 PM
Comment #20to if he hadn’t of got players Rafa was away then all hell wood of broke out simple don’t understand the Barclays loan strange one that
Mag :P
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Comment #21https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/magpies-complete-almiron-signing?displayMode=GoogleAmp&__twitter_impression=true
Cmon miggy Howay man
SPRINGY
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Comment #22Done deal almiron
Oldgit1
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:32 PM
Comment #23I believe we will only have the two signings, Limbombe appears to be off, as is the Greek guy. So will we be happy with just the two signings ?
Why oh why have the club left it so late in the window. Bloody stupid.
oldarse
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:35 PM
Comment #24BREAKING NEWS
Newcastle have confirmed the signing of Miguel Almiron.
The 24-year-old has penned a five-and-a-half year deal which will keep him at the club until 2024.
We understand the fee is a club-record £21m
Markaccus
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:35 PM
Comment #255 and a half years, No.24 shirt
geordiemark
Jan 31, 2019 at 2:38 PM
Comment #26well that’s two in, another 3 required
JP...from The Rock
Jan 31, 2019 at 3:40 PM
Comment #27Pheww it’s finally official, Miggy Almiron signs at last. Had me worried he was gonna do a Lukaku on us there.