Newcastle have just confirmed the signing of 31 year-old Atletico Madrid full-back Jesus Gamez and he becomes Rafa’s 4th signing this summer.
He was rumored to be very close to signing yesterday, so he must have been on Tyneside and had his medical yesterday.
31 year-old Jesus Gamez signed today
This is what has been put on the Newcastle web-site:
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Newcastle United have completed the signing of defender Jesus Gamez from Atletico Madrid.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who has featured 12 times in the Champions League during an impressive career, has put pen to paper on an initial two-year contract at St. James’ Park and becomes the Magpies’ fourth summer arrival.
Gamez began his playing days at Malaga and went on to make 256 appearances during nine seasons in the first team at his local club.
The versatile full-back spent three years as Malaga’s captain before departing for Atletico Madrid in August 2014, where he helped them reach the final of last season’s Champions League.
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This is what Jesus said after signing:
“I am really looking forward to starting the next part of my career at Newcastle,”
“It was the right time to leave Atletico Madrid and this is the right move for me.”
“We have an exciting project here, to bring Newcastle back to where it belongs, in the Premier League, and I am very happy to be a part of that.”
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez added this:
“I am really pleased to bring Jesus here to Newcastle.” “He is a very good defender who can play on both sides, left and right.”
“He is experienced, I know he has great character and, importantly, he is an excellent professional. I am sure he will give balance to the team.”
Jesus also has leadership ability and as written above he was captain of Malaga for three years so he will be a candidate for the captaincy at Newcastle.
It’s interesting it’s only a two year deal – at least to start with and he will be 33 years-old at the end of that but he could easily earn an extension to that if he plays well for us.
He looks like another excellent signing by Rafa Benitez.
Comments welcome.
33 comments so far
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 11:53 AM
Comment #1@WWSBRD – you’re right, ha its probably the german in my blood, no such thing as perfection, winning alone is not enough etc
Just really not a fan of deschamps as a man or a manager but he does deserve credit where its due if he wins it. He’s gone against the grain/press a lot so fair play if it comes up trumps
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 8, 2016 at 11:55 AM
Comment #2@Jayphoto
Absolutely gutted when I seen Leeds had signed Roofe ! Assumed someone from the premier league would have signed him ! We should have been all over that !!
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 8, 2016 at 11:55 AM
Comment #3Marcelo Bielsa has resigned as Lazio manager, just TWO days after taking the job.
“We note with amazement the resignation of Marcelo Bielsa in clear violation of the commitments and agreements signed last week and filed with the Italian Football Federation,” the Serie A club said in a statement.
There have been rumours that the former Marseille boss has been approached to take over Argentina.
Might mean Thauvin has to stay with us unless Marseille stump up the cash
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 11:56 AM
Comment #4The more we sign, the more I wonder if Rafa is literally going to change half the squad – 8 or 9 players?
I guess it depends on who leaves ie: Sissoko, Gini,etc to how many more come in but currently, but realistically I’d guess he’s looking for 2CB’s and a Leftback (depending on where he sees dummetts future) But even if we were in the premier league, I would be excited about adding Gamez, Ritchie and Gayle to the side.
Add a CB and manager and squad into consideration, is this our best side since Bobby Robson yet we’re in a division below?
WWSBRD
Jul 8, 2016 at 11:57 AM
Comment #5jay
Haha fair play I love the German way, they just need to find a striker (and a LW imo I dont like Ozil that much these days) but France have been the best team there imo
I dont rate Deschamps all that highly but cant say he hasnt done a good job
On Gamez good business, wonder who wanted the two year deal though him or the club? Time for the next target still got a way to go imo
Mister Tuff
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Comment #6Sissoko – one or two in my opinion are viewing Sissoko (currently) through tournament beer goggles. Judging him over the last few seasons should temper some viewpoints that he is a CL player – I do not think he is.
Think he’ll be picked for a start on Sunday though -another opportunity to assess him.
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:01 PM
Comment #7Takes a brave man to anger Lazio fans…. they are crazy!
Bielsa can’t sign Thauvin for argentina, who else will be crazy enough to sign him?? Guess it depends on what Benitez makes of him in training. Theres always a chance he might impress, he has the talent
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Comment #8@wwsbrd – I suppose in 2 years he is 33 so maybe the club? From what I’ve heard about him, hes the kind of personality destined for management. Always good when we sign a player from abroad and the whole country can’t believe hes gone there
Lee Charnley Bunga Party
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Comment #9@Jayphoto
I would just love one of these French fancy wingers to just man up , get stuck in and then show his quality on the ball! Thauvin might be the last one we sign for a few years !
We will be dominating teams at home so its set up perfectly for him to attack teams on the left with Richie on the right !
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:09 PM
Comment #10@Lee Charnley bunga party – I think the only problem is, Thauvin hates playing on the left…
He wants to play in the centre #10, but his best position from what I’ve seen is on the right cutting in. Whenever he has had form its been in that role. Can’t see him getting much game time in either for us really
Shadow_Shearer
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:10 PM
Comment #11Great piece of business, very shrud by benitez. 2 years worth of champions league experience in gamez. Anybody else think jesus is here to work in central defence??
We have mbemba who can play anywhere at the back 4 also.
WWSBRD
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:13 PM
Comment #12jay
Maybe so though surely a 3 year deal is the more regular at this stage in his career? I dont know like I am just a negative nelly haha
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:13 PM
Comment #13@shadow_shearer surely hes signed to play right back? He’s been a rightback all his career aside from covering for injured players and Janmaat is rumoured to be tying up a move to italy
Shadow_Shearer
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:13 PM
Comment #14How much did gamez cost?? Was he free?
Belfast
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:15 PM
Comment #15Whatttttttttt ? No re sale value ? I’m gutted 🙂
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:16 PM
Comment #16@wwsbrd I suppose it depends on his wages/bonuses? Might have the option to extend etc
For me its a clear indication we will set up as rafa sets up all his sides. Rafa loves a back 4 that defend first and foremost and gamez is a really defensive minded full back. Rarely crosses halfway, but has a habit of shutting down worldclass wingers he plays against. Hes essentially the opposite to janmaat in everyway
will die for the toon army
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:18 PM
Comment #17Now sell Janmatt & Hairdyer. That guy is always in the sickbay another Steven Taylor.
CB: Lasceles, Mbemba, Dummett, ??
LB: Gamez, Mbabu
RB: Janmatt, Anita
Janmatt……..Mbemba……Lasceles…….Gamez
I am ok with that.
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:21 PM
Comment #18@17 – Gamez is a right back. Only can cover at left back and centreback but his strongest position by far is right back
WWSBRD
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Comment #19jay
See that worries me a little, in the Championship we should be dominating teams completely. Playing with a flat back 4 with little to no attacking intend leaves our front 4 to break teams down something they have been terrible at doing for some time
BUT Rafa is far better than me at managing a football team…though if he keeps Dummett at LB I may cry
lesh
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:22 PM
Comment #20Ron Knee
‘Jesus is a geordie’ 😀
Imagine 50000 chanting that at SJP….
As sure as eggs are eggs, it’ll set the cat among the pigeons with the religious hard-liners!
Hail Wor Ashley
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:25 PM
Comment #21Lol at those nuggets that said we won’t be able to get £12-15m each for Gini and Sissoko.
Looking like very conservative estimates right now.
Many on here know nowt about football.
The overrated Frenchman
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:26 PM
Comment #22A two year contract sounds about right. All being well, a season in the Championship, and then one in the PL most likely transitioning to a younger player thereafter. Rafa is signing grafters in the short term it looks like. Where Thauvin could fit in you can’t begin to imagine.
Shadow_Shearer
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:27 PM
Comment #23If benitez sets his wing backs to never go forward, haidara & dummet will surely look like better players. Neither of them can attack for s***
The overrated Frenchman
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:29 PM
Comment #24Haidara is ok going forward. I haven’t written him off.
John Tudor
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:35 PM
Comment #25no if it was jesus was a geordie ….
theres the killer
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:37 PM
Comment #26saw someone say about Mane being worth 34m but Wijnaldum scored the same amount of goals and had the same amount of assists from a deeper position in his debut season in a very poor team, is a year younger and doesn’t leave for 6 weeks for African nations. Makes a good point. If Mane is 34m and Ibe is 15m then what is Gini worth really?
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:38 PM
Comment #27Jesus is a great signing… we did want players that would sacrifice themselves for the cause 😉
giimps
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:38 PM
Comment #28Could Thauvin and Ritchie be reversed, both cutting in and allowing fullbacks to overlap (assuming we cover the defence with a great holding player and utilise a sweeper keeper too) it would work with haidara and janmaat as neither of them defend well
clinath@ed
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:40 PM
Comment #29will Die….I’m confuse, first u say sell Janmaat then you put him in your team?
jayphoto
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:40 PM
Comment #30@giimps both thauvin and Ritchie are left footed players that play right side
Our Toon
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:42 PM
Comment #31Sissoko certainly causing a stir isn’t he. 2 ways to look at it, either he’s been piss poor because he’s got nothing about him or he’s actually a decent player when he has better players around him and a bit of movement. It’s not just his performance against German he played well against Iceland with end product. That team that schooled England!! In the groups he didn’t have the best of games but 1 memorable run against the Swiss. It’s tough to judge players in big competitions, sissoko has done very well though and taken his chance.
His passing has been sharper his movement better, he won’t always get past his man sometimes passes will go astray. Those who wanted Arfa out because he didn’t defend or was lazy now want sissoko out because he does nothing going forward. Carrying the ball and committing players creates space for others.
Sometimes I don’t get fans at all, if you read back to earlier in the season it was all about the team having a lack of pace, now those twisting about lack of pace want rid of one of our quickest players. IF Rafa can get the best out of him then it’s only good news for us, apparently Gini and Sissoko are no good for us yet Koeman wants Gini the manager most rate on here and Dortmund want Sissoko if reports are to be believed. People need to put differences aside and acknowledge that no player has been good under pardew, carver or McClaren. Tbf not many players would be with those blokes in charge, McClaren couldn’t get the best out of Lampard, Gerrard, Rio, Terry, Cole etc and failed to qualify for a major tournament. Pardew failed to get the best out of Tevez and Mascherano to name a few, players that went on to achieve a great deal yet hammers fans thought very little of when he was in charge.
Sissoko love him or hate him is having a very tournament, Nufc83 says he can’t pass and is just an athlete, most players these days are just athletes. Sissoko pass percentage from last night’s game was 89%, higher than Matudi, Pogba and Payet
Our Toon
Jul 8, 2016 at 12:46 PM
Comment #32As for Gini agreed he went missing a lot but 11 goals from midfield in an awfully managed team and interest from spurs shows he has something about him
Menorca mag
Jul 8, 2016 at 3:51 PM
Comment #33regarding Jesus, just to inform you of the pronunciation of the word Jesus. In Spanish the J is pronounced H, therefore Hesus. Hope this helps.