Newcastle United needed to raise their funds as they very on the verge of breaching the Premier League profitability and sustainability (PSR) rules. The club decided to sell Allan Saint-Maximin last year to Saudi side Al Ahli. In January, the Magpies wanted to achieve the same by selling Miguel Almiron. However, the Paraguayan international refused to join the Saudi side mid-season and continued with Newcastle. Some of the Newcastle fans have criticized Almiron for refusing to leave. However, Allan Saint-Maximin has defended Almiron and said some good words about him.
Newcastle had been under immense pressure to gain profit to avoid breaching PSR rules. Last July they gained around £23 million by selling Allan Saint-Maximin to Saudi side Al Ahli. The Magpies have now registered the sale of Yankuba Minteh to Brighton and Hove Albion along with Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest. Sale of these two homegrown players have brought £68 million which was huge relief to Newcastle to comply with PSR rules. The Magpies have avoided the breaching of PSR rules on the deadline day. However, some fans believe that Newcastle would have never been in this situation if Almiron moved away in January.
Saint-Maximin has the back of Almiron
One of the Newcastle fan page tweeted that Newcastle wouldn’t have been in PSR mess if Almiron didn’t refuse the move to Saudi club in January. The tweet continued to talk good about Saint-Maximin and said that the Paraguayan international should have followed the footsteps of Saint-Maximin.
Allan Saint-Maximin asked the fans to respect the Paraguayan international and supported his former teammate. The current Al Ahli player spent four years together with Almiron and knows him very well.
Newcastle to part ways with Almiron
Newcastle are reported to be in talks with Saudi side regarding a potential away move for Almiron. Saudi’s transfer market has opened on 1st July and the talks have been quickly progressed about the arrival of Almiron to asia. Sky Sports reporter Downie has confirmed that Newcastle are desperate to sell Almiron to Saudi club.
Almiron joined Newcastle from the MLS side Atlanta United in 2019. The Magpies paid around £21 million for the winger. Last February, Almiron signed contract extension with the Premier League side extending his stay at England until 2026. However this January, Newcastle were ready to offload him due to failure in earning profit. Al Shabab made a move for Almiron which he turned down and opted to stay in England. The talks have emerged again due to Almiron not being at his best in 2023/24 season. His performances have dipped when compared to 2022/23 season. He was inferior in all of the components like shots, shots on target, goals, expected goals and assists.
Almiron’s time at Newcastle United
Miguel Almiron played 37 matches in MLS in 2018 season and scored 13 goals along with 11 assists. In January 2019 Almiron signed for Newcastle six months before Saint-Maximin and made 10 Premier League appearances in the 2018/19 season. Quickly from the 2019/20 season Almiron earned his place as a regular starter for the English club making 36 appearances in his first full season with Newcastle United.
The 2022/23 season was the best season in Almiron’s Newcastle career where scored 11 goals along with providing 2 assists in 34 matches. The Paraguayan international was superior in every sense and helped Newcastle to finish on the 4th position in Premier League. As a result the Magpies were back in Champions League. However Almiron was not able to continue this form in 2023/24 season. The 30 year old winger found the back of the net only 3 times in 33 appearances.
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