We always thought that Mehdi Abeid didn’t really get a fair shake of things at Newcastle under Alan Pardew – and after a good season on loan at Greek side Panthinakos in the 2013-2014 and then another season to forget at Newcastle, he was sold for a nominal fee to the Greek side last August.
There was news earlier this year that Mehdi would be keen to rejoin Newcastle, even if we are relegated – and now there is a report in O Jogo in Portugal, that Rafa Benitez is interested in signing him this summer.
Mehdi Abeid in action for Newcastle
If the report is true it will be very interesting to see how Benitez can develop the 23 year-old twice capped Algerian International, who is a good technical footballer and certainly gave his best whenever he played for Newcastle.
Portuguese club Porto are also said to be interested in the player (which explains the O Jogo report) who made only 19 total appearances for Newcastle United in his four years at the club.
Mehdi always had good potential when he signed for us as a free agent from Lens in the summer of 2011 and it would be good to see the 5’11” central midfielder return to Newcastle.
Back in early April the Chronicle reported the midfielder was still fond of the Tyneside club and was still keen to prove himself at St. James’ Park.
He didn’t want to leave last summer when he was told he wasn’t part of the club’s long-term plans – presumably by then head coach Steve McClaren.
In early April a source close to Abeid said this to the Chronicle:
“If Newcastle want Mehdi next season he’d be happy to come back and help the team – even if they drop into the Championship.”
At least he wants to come back, but of course there’s no telling if this report is true.
Abeid is now said to be worth around £3M.
We’ll see what happens, but it would be an intriguing signing by Rafa Benitez.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
47 comments so far
Rotonda heights
Jun 9, 2016 at 11:40 AM
Comment #1get kemen back too
Ketsbaia9
Jun 9, 2016 at 11:43 AM
Comment #2Hahaha, this is hilarious. He should have never been sold. Far better than Colback.
jazzyp
Jun 9, 2016 at 11:47 AM
Comment #3Don’t believe for one minute this will be a Benitez signing
cyprus
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:24 PM
Comment #4He didn’t want to leave last summer Ed? I guess greek newspapers are… greek to you?
There, he was quoted as stating he would fight NUFC to be sold or released.
cyprus
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:27 PM
Comment #5Anyway Ed,
Find a consistent CF first. Then a versatile defender, Enrique style. Ain’t the actual Enrique available? After that a winger, either side. Then you can see the position.
cyprus
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:28 PM
Comment #6Did I say Ed. I meant Rafa. Sorry to the both of you 🙂
cyprus
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:30 PM
Comment #7…see the MF position
KevinLee
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:44 PM
Comment #8what a waste money again & again….
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:44 PM
Comment #9Another talented player that we chucked far too early !!McLaren said to Abeid he would not get game time !!!
Would take him back for squad depth but we need other areas filled before looking at central midfield !!!
Cyprus mentioned Enrique there would anyone take him back now he is on a free transfer ?
Blofal
Jun 9, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Comment #10No idea why we sold the kid to be honest. He always gave 100% and players far worse than him are still at the club.
catchy in norway
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:05 PM
Comment #11im a massive fan of his, dont know why we let him go, and i hope he does come back
Harley
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:13 PM
Comment #12I’d be happy with this signing, always rated him. Maybe not as much as kets though.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:15 PM
Comment #13Pretty sure someone had posted on here ages ago was that Abeid was pretty outspoken when at the club and argued with Carver and Pardew over tactics etc to be honest no wonder !! But that kind of outspoken nature would not have been tolerated at Ashleys Newcastle !!
Benitez likes his players to be thinkers and probably would have welcomed the challenge from Abeid although to be fair the young lad would probably have been played in a system that suited him under Rafa
G
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:15 PM
Comment #14Off subject, but we can scratch the Agger to Rafa rumour, he’s retired aged 31. Next.
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:18 PM
Comment #15@G
Yeah he did seem to suffer from injuries in his last few seasons with Liverpool probably wouldn’t have been able to cope with demands of Championship football nowadays !!
So guess we will be getting Skrtel then? ha ha
lesh
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:20 PM
Comment #16Cyprus
Your posts are all over the place – could it be that John Carver’s arrival on the island’s having an effect already?
G
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:29 PM
Comment #17lcbp, that rumour would not surprise me one bit mate.
BeeGuy
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:36 PM
Comment #18Abeid was blamed for a 1-0 loss to Man City. But if you watch the tape of the Rooney goial, you will see Rooney illegally knocking Abeid from behind and then pouncing on the ball. Abeid was the best man that night and it took dirty play to get the past him.
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:37 PM
Comment #19IF this did actually happen, Ketsy would have the mastery and dominion over us all. Be in fear, people. 🙂
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #20I actually agreed with Ketsy though, a better player on his day than colback, had a shot and the willingness to get forward. Never played for long enough or in the right position. Like HBA the previous numb encumbents didn’t have a clue how to integrate them.
Jib
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:40 PM
Comment #21I read this shyte 2 days ago and was going to post it , then thought “naw don’t give Mr Tuff another excuse to look at me bum”
It goes like this.
Porto fancy Abeid
The manager of Porto is Nuno Espirito Santos
Cathro is NES’s ex assistant manager
Oh look there’s a double NUFC link!
Let’s make a story out of this convoluted crap.
😎
Jib
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:52 PM
Comment #22BeeGuy
When did Rooney play for Man City !!!!!!
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:54 PM
Comment #23Well we all know it’s crap because it appears in a paper 😉 be prepared for loads of this stuff over the summer. It keeps the blog churning along though, the endless rumours.
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:56 PM
Comment #24I think it was while he was on loan from Real Valllecano.
😀
Sorry couldn’t resist.
Mister Tuff
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:56 PM
Comment #25Jib Jibberish – I certainly do not need nor do I have any desire to look at your arse when administering a good caning.
A smart blow anywhere above your shoulders should score a direct hit.
PUMMELLER
Jun 9, 2016 at 1:57 PM
Comment #26Rooney at Man City, not sure what highlights you have been watching
Jib
Jun 9, 2016 at 2:06 PM
Comment #27Tsunki man
I see why you have to try humour and sniping on the blog.
When you talk footy your lack of nous shines like a beacon.
Mehdi Abeid although he was born Montreuil a North African commune in greater Paris very soon opted to make Algeria his international destination he knew he would never be good enough to play for Les Bleus.
He played for Algeria in a couple of friendlies and the idiot returned to NUFC with a broken toe (which he tried to hide) which put him out for months.
He went to Greece to increase his chances of 1st team games and thus get more caps for Algeria.
So far his only full cap is to come on as a sub for 6 minutes against the Seychelles !
He’s had loads of chances and blown them.
cyprus
Jun 9, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Comment #28Lesh
Sorry about that. Actually Carver isn’t on the island yet. He was in the States, apparently, met up with Omonoia just today, in Austria, not Cyprus.
SPRINGY
Jun 9, 2016 at 2:14 PM
Comment #29afternoon all
would’nt have a problem with abeid coming back,thought he was a bit unlucky not to play more and thought he was steadily growing into a decent player,but i will believe it when i see it tbh.
Mister Tuff
Jun 9, 2016 at 2:31 PM
Comment #30Image of Abeid
Please ignore his feet/lack of a shoe and the silver things in his hands.
http://www.nufcblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/mehdi-abeid-987.jpg
AncientC
Jun 9, 2016 at 2:32 PM
Comment #31Abeid was one of the few shining lights of the 2014/15 season, I still cannot understand why he was sold.
I recall when Pardew put out what he thought was a weakened side against Man City in the cup. Abeid, Armstrong & Aarons all played, including Haidara at LB and Dummett at CB, in a 4-3-3 system. One of the commentators on TalkSport predicted before the game that Man City could win the game by double digits, and he was being completely serious. The side only went out and won that game 2-0 ‘at the Etihad’… that same formation/set up was never played again by Pardew.
I would love to see Abeid back myself. Hopefully the club were smart enough to insert buy-black clause when was was sold. I could only see Abeid coming back if Tiote leaves – considering that Pardew turned Abeid into a defensive midfielder.
Very Terry
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:07 PM
Comment #32Prima Donnas out, Big girl’s blouses out, (Sissoko out, 2 years ago please), McClaren out. Oh, wait…. Mehdi Abeid in, Ayoze in, Rafa in, Championship champions in. Beer in. That’s it.
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:10 PM
Comment #33Jib what shines like a beacon is your face which no doubt looks like a smacked a***e. And I concur, if I ever need advice on sniping technique you would be my reference point.
As if I didn’t know/google all that before. Tell me, oh font of football knowledge and wisdom, what did Google tell you of young Mr Colbacks cap record? If you look up “context” you may pull up a few useful pearls for your own use. In this case we were talking about the contrast in perceived talent between our own ginger swirler and Abeid. Loosen the underpants string a bit and take in some oxygen.
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:12 PM
Comment #34Very terry well put and you en en a high. Props!
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:13 PM
Comment #35Ended on a high. it’s doing that thing again, ma.
Tsunki
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:15 PM
Comment #36Mr Tuff – wow how devious is Abeid in that photo? Blending in with the crowd in that day glow green camo and pretending to have metal arms! What a hidey guy! 🙂
wolfshead@toon
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:24 PM
Comment #37prima donnas and big girls blouses out are you referring to players or bloggers?
Mister Tuff
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:26 PM
Comment #38Tsunki – indeed that Abeid is a crafty fellow -trying to hide in the crowd- wearing an Algerian track suit to blend in with those around him.
To be fair – in the crush of the crowd his new extending aluminium arms would not be seen.
manxpie
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:31 PM
Comment #39“Buy-black clause” haha I don’t think ya could get away with that!
Very Terry
Jun 9, 2016 at 3:31 PM
Comment #40@ Tsunki, thank you. Err, red wine in now..