Talking balls: Newcastle United’s Yohan Cabeye has low confidence because Arsenal thought he was worth £11m?!
TALKING Balls: The Newcastle Chronicle has a story local team Newcastle United’s Yohan Cabaye, who was wanted by Arsenal and, reportedly, striked to get his own way.
Neil Cameron writes:
Cabaye thought he was joining Arsenal when they made a bid for him days before the season began.
So did many others inside St James’ Park.
But, and this is where the fall comes, Arsenal decided he wasn’t worth more than the £11m they offered and instead broke their own transfer record to sign Mesut Ozil, paying four times more than they rated the Frenchman.
One minute Cabaye was a wanted man, the next he was being booed by his own supporters while warming up as a substitute.
Newcastle would have sold him had Arsenal came close to the £20m mark.
And:
And he also believed that he was an established member of Didier Deschamps’ French squad.
Cabaye was left out of the World Cup qualifying matches in Georgia and France.
So Alan Pardew is left with a player who didn’t want to be here a week or so ago. A player whose confidence must be at its lowest ebb since he turned professional.
His confidence is low because Arsenal wanted him to play for them in the Champions’ League and were willing to pay much more than the £4.3m Newcastle singed him from Lille for in June 2011. And as for his not playing for France, Sky Sports reported:
France coach Didier Deschamps has explained he did not call on Yohan Cabaye for the next World Cup qualifiers because of his transfer situation.
The French international was subject to a failed transfer bid from Arsenal and was subsequently left out of the Magpies’ side to face Manchester City, which they lost 4-0. He has since not played against West Ham in the league or Morecambe in the cup and his lack of action this term has seen Cayabe not add to his solitary cap.
Deschamps told L’Equipe: “The players are free to make any career choices, but that could have consequences on the national team.”
Cabaye wasn’t left out of the French side because he was failing; he was left out because he hadn’t played enough competitive football. Cameron then adds:
Cabaye’s pride must have taken a heavy blow. Dropped by his country and jeered by some, but not all, of his own fans.
And perhaps worst of all, his standing in football was publicly judged.
Not good enough to be an £11m player and discarded once a world-class star became available.
No. He was good enough to be an £11m player (see Arsenal bid above); it’s just that Newcastle thought he was worth a lot more. And you can’t discard what you don’t own.
Such are the facts…
Posted: 7th, September 2013 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
