‘I can’t wait’: £4.5m player who Newcastle sold says he’ll be at SJP tonight for PSG game

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Newcastle United vs Paris Saint-Germain is the biggest game at St James’ Park for a long time, and it is attracting some huge names to Tyneside.

Kylian Mbappe will be lining up for PSG, while the world’s media will be in attendance to witness Newcastle’s first home game in the Champions League for 20 years.

It is an incredibly exciting occasion, and one that will also see Yohan Cabaye return to St James’ Park.

He is set to be at the game this evening, as part of PSG’s contingent. Cabaye famously left Newcastle to sign for PSG back in 2014, and he is now actually employed by the club. The 37-year-old is the deputy youth football director for PSG’s academy, helping bring the next generation of players through at the Ligue 1 club.

PSG being drawn against Newcastle in the Champions League was a dream scenario for him, and he has spoke about his delight about heading back to St James’ Park.

Yohan Cabaye is buzzing to return to Newcastle

Ahead of tonight’s game, Cabaye has spoke to the Athletic. He is incredibly excited to be in attendance for the Champions League clash between his two former clubs Newcastle and PSG.

“To be serious, I can’t wait to be there on Wednesday,” he said.

“I can’t wait to come back. Except with Palace, it’s going to be the first time that I have come back to St James’.

“I know my colleagues from Paris don’t know about the atmosphere! For sure, it will be one of the best nights ever in Europe. I cannot wait. I can’t wait to see familiar faces too, some people who worked there at the club.”

A very different Newcastle to the one Cabaye left for PSG

Cabaye was a bargain signing in 2011, arriving from Lille for £4.5million. He immediately became a star on Tyneside, and was the talisman for Alan Pardew’s side.

His efforts nearly led Newcastle into the Champions League during his debut year, before results turned the following season.

The midfielder spent two-and-a-half seasons on Tyneside, before signing for PSG in 2014. There was a lot of bad blood when he left, having used Newcastle as a stepping stone.

But his departure was symbolic of Mike Ashley’s Newcastle United. At the time, they famously sold off their best players for profit, with no real ambition to do anything spectacular on the pitch beyond survive.

Now things are very different. In fact, it is a complete contrast. Newcastle are competing, and they are going to be competing on the grandest stage against one of Europe’s biggest clubs in PSG.

It is a remarkable occasion, and one that Cabaye is relishing. In fairness, he’s probably just happy that he won’t get booed like the last time he was here with Crystal Palace!