The Mag and Mark Jensen have had a Canal+ interview with Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye translated from the French, and Yohan has revealed that he had an offer to join Tottenham in the summer to replace Luka Modric, who went to Real Madrid, but he turned it down and preferred to stay at Newcastle – good for him – in fact great for him.
Yohan Cabaye – preferred to stay at Newcastle
When Yohan Cabaye first arrived at Newcastle last summer, and it was a huge coup for us to get such a talented player for just €5M, he said he also had offers from Spain, but wanted to play in the Premier League, which he thought was the best league in the world – he’s right there.
This is what Yohan told Canal+:
“For me the Premier League is the best league in the world, you have to work twice as hard and we know about the high tempo in every match. This is what attracted me and I will develop physically.”
And his manager at Lille, Rudi Garcia, thinks that Yohan is now a much better player than he was while at the French club, with his extra conditioning and playing against top sides every weekend – and of course the games are being broadcast live around the world, and seem to be catching on even over here in the US.
This is what Rudi Garcia said:
“A year on Cabaye is stronger, he has reached maturity, he is a complete player, he can do everything and he can play in the midfield of all top teams in the world”
We heard from Newcastle manager Alan Pardew in early September that a number of Newcastle stars had been tempted away by big clubs in August, and it was thought that Yohan Cabaye was one of them, and it seems it was Tottenham who came in for Yohan – but he turned them down.
This is what Yohan had to say about that:
“The offer from Tottenham was to replace Modric.” “If I had wanted to leave I would have; I have not left, I was not meant to leave as I am still here and I hope a lot of good things will come out of it”.
Alan Pardew was then asked if his French International central midfielder could play for a top team, and the answer to that must have been obvious, after Yohan looked one of France’s best players in June during the Euro 2012 Championships in Poland and the Ukraine.
In any case, this is what Alan Pardew said:
“Could he play for a top team?-Yes, do I want him to go elsewhere? – NO”.
Cabaye’s fellow central midfielder at Newcastle, Cheick Tiote, also turned down a move to Chelsea, on the same day last year that Andy Carroll left for Liverpool, so it’s always good to have players on Tyneside who want to play for Newcastle United – very good in fact.
We can mark down Yohan Cabaye now as one of those players, and he will have endeared himself to the hearts of Newcastle fans everywhere, by the decision he made in the summer – to stay on Tyneside.
It’s great to (still) have Yohan Cabaye at Newcastle.
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266 comments so far
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Comment #11st
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Comment #2*Waits for hate storm*
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:52 AM
Comment #3Rainrix – yay now someone can share in my 1st post celebration party. Tonight at the Gateshead Hilton, bring booze.
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Comment #4Hate storm? On this blog? That’s only when the posters get back from school. 🙂
Brutooon
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #5apart from cabaye a good player, he is also a good PERSON
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #6Conaldo… Sounds good man is ibiza invited, Ya know blog police and all that? Im afraid we might be banish if he doesn’t get an invite 🙂
blew
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Comment #7He could have gone to a top club……….are we not a top club? Top fans for sure, a lot more in numbers than Spurs.
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:56 AM
Comment #8Ha the last time i got 1st some random part timer came out of nowhere and told me to get a life. Unsurprisingly he didn’t contribute to the rest of the discussion or actually post anything anywhere since.
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 11:57 AM
Comment #9Fine rainix.
Dear Ibiza
Please please come to mine and rainrix’ celebration party, I appreciated it is a long way from Ibiza to Newcastle, that’s why I met you in the middle, Gateshead (I was never good at geography 😉 )
Hope to see you there
Ps. Please don’t banish us.
🙂
ppb
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Comment #10are yous inviting Indian Magpie?
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Comment #11Damn it
Dear Indian magpie
Please come to mine and rainrix’ celebration party. I know it’s far to come from India, so the party has been moved to Gateshead.
I hope you can make it, and i also hope you’re alright as nobody has seen you for months.
Tata
tequilamag
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:07 PM
Comment #12Conaldo, your bound to get a few gatecrashers as well.
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Comment #13Also i may be late, i’ll have to go score some cocaine and hookers 1st and maybe some diazepam for ibiza seeing as he’s going down the long road to addiction 😉
Kyo
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:09 PM
Comment #14We’re a top club in terms of history and fanbase but league position? Nope. We need to get back into Champions League. Where we belong!
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:10 PM
Comment #15Righty o, time for some food, then have to do some wor… Damn it Ibiza what’s it called again. Plus some last minute party planning and travel arrangements for our guests.
Will be back on later when all the controversy starts, although realistically ill be back on in 20 mins or so. Can’t stay off this thing.
🙂
jimmymagpie
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Comment #16Did Ncle accept an offer from Spurs then, or did he talk to Spurs without Ncle’s knowledge? Could only talk to them officially if Ncle agreed a fee! I’m told that hopefully, Krul, Simpson, and Colo, will be available for Man U, but Saylor is struggling.
SuperShearer
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Comment #17If a top club like Man Utd, Barca or Real come in for him I suspect he’ll be off. Spurs are no bigger than us and Cabaye would have seen an unproven manager in the Prem, in the form of AVB, coming in and known that Pardew was more likely to offer him the kind of football he wanted. Great that he turned them down but it doesn’t mean other clubs aren’t going to come sniffing at some point.
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:12 PM
Comment #18Tequila – ill give the bouncers a description of Kets. He’ll be in school uniform with a lunch box full of abeid pictures.
Ta ta
tequilamag
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:13 PM
Comment #19Rainrix, the number of people now intending to gatecrash has just gone up. Are you sure you and Conaldo have thought this through. It could end up like a facebook party thrown by a 16 year old.
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Comment #20tequila… Im physically repulsed by planning ahead. Although to be fair its not my house being trashed so I’m less bothered, the room rental is in conaldos name anyway 😉
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:20 PM
Comment #21I will have to respectfully decline your invitation. That is until the women and drugs are confirmed. Alternative plan, relocate the party to Ibiza? I know the party scene isn’t known to be that good over here, but would save me the trip.
Jimmy…That’s what I was thinking. Be interesting to know how this “offer” went down. Perhaps you know someone who may have some details.
jimmymagpie
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Comment #22Ibiza – No, I don’t mate, I was told that Ncle received 1 or 2 enquiries about certain players, but no offers. Perhaps we’ll find out in the fullness of time!
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Comment #23Right then. I am off to the airport (meeting clients, not heading to Newcastle). Catch you all later
Conaldo (The Wizard)
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Comment #24Ibiza – the lame part scene in Ibiza over the party scene in Gateshead? Get outta here.
And can confirm the hookers, drugs aren’t confirmed yet.
Tequila – you are invited you don’t hav to gate crash lol 🙂
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:25 PM
Comment #25Jimmy…Don’t you run in to Mr or Mrs Cabaye from time to time or perhaps my memory is letting me down (too much exposure to sun etc)? Seem to remember dog walking or something.
I get the feeling with the Ashley regime we may never know full details of much. In 50 years time his secrets will be more talked about than who killed JFK 🙂
Until next time
jesperfuglsang
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Comment #26Don’t see why I am not invited 🙁 it is the picking of the blog team all over again…
…by the way it’s called Rainrix and my and not mine and Rainrix 😉 lol (that’s what you get for not inviting me)
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Comment #27Jesper… Whats more easily availble in denmark. Drugs or hoes? Or in fact just bring whatever your country has in abundance 🙂
jesperfuglsang
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Comment #28Rainrix…it is denmark you are speakinf of 😀 we have plenty of drugs and prostitutes….how are you on alcohol and pork? B-) lol
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:58 PM
Comment #29Jesper… I must admit the only place in scandinavia ive been too is finland. Tampere specifically nice place. Although now i know there’s illicit substances in denmark i may have to visit 😉
Also ive been so caught up in booze an females i forgot about food i say load the ferrys with pork and get yourseld down here 🙂
Nufc-83
Oct 2, 2012 at 12:59 PM
Comment #30Good on the lad im guessing spurs would have offered another third at least of what he is on here.
Nufc-83
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:03 PM
Comment #31Why has most of the conversations on here turned into non football related garbage. Cant you open an msn conversation to spout this tripe.
jesperfuglsang
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:05 PM
Comment #32Rainrix…if you ever visit Copenhagen you would want to go to Christiania for drungs, Istegade by the trainstation for your hoes and for alkohol anyplace on Vesterbro 😉
…I’ll load the truck B-)
By the way Finland is nice; I have been to Turku, Helsink and Tempere B-)
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:10 PM
Comment #33Jesper… If i do i may need to kidnapp you. I dont think i want to be skulking around dodgy areas of copenhagen by myself 😉
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:12 PM
Comment #3483… Stop being humorless, theres nothing saying we cant talk about what we like. And besides its tuesday afternoon, theres not a great deal new to talk about anyway 😐
Tsunki
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:29 PM
Comment #35So despite the waiting no invitation. And to think I was first to congratulate his firstness. Bah! A flash in the pan diva – getting all uppity now he has found fame, leaving us ‘little people’ behind in their wake. I suppose that’s why its called ‘showbusiness’ and not ‘showfriends’ 🙁
I hope you did the right thing dreamboat, you may have got CL next year ha ha. Cue rioting and cancelling of parties.
rainrix
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:35 PM
Comment #36Tsunki… You try getting first it does horrible things to you :).
Although you were already invited, being part of the positivity clique as it were 😉
ppb
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:38 PM
Comment #37@tsunki. out! now!
bro56
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Comment #38i wonder if he turned them down before we didnt sign anyone worth taking us higher in the league. I bet he saw all the players we were linked with, inc his bezzie and thought its worth staying here to challenge the top four.
Wonder what he thinks now considering we dont even have a defence
STB
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:51 PM
Comment #39I’m afraid you been led into error by some poor translating. He did not say he turned them down or did not want to go. He said it didn’t happen and if if didn’t happen he thinks that there is a reason.
It didn’t happen I think because Ashley asked for a lot of money and Spurs wouldn’t pay.
The rest of the inetrview made it clear that he sees his future elsewhere at a “top” club and that is what he is striving for. We are a stepping stone in his personal quest.
Ben Arfa I think is in a similar situation, proving himself at a good club to get a dream move top a top 10 European team, which we are not and will not be under Ashley. Top 20 we may make if we can keep players.
French guys seems to have their clique (Ba, Cabaye, Arfa, Abeid, Amalfitano) which is natural but don’t believe they’re here to stay for the love of the club.
They enjoy playing here and playing every week but they are all after progression to the usual suspects (Barca/Madrid/Manchesters/Chelsea/Arsenal/PSG…)
bro56
Oct 2, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Comment #40any rumors who our new shirts sponsors are?