Newcastle United and the Champions League were just not meant to be this season.
While Eddie Howe’s side largely acquitted themselves well in the Champions League group stage, Newcastle fell at the first hurdle.
Obviously, that doesn’t quite tell the full story.
The thrashing at of Paris Saint-Germain at St James’ Park will live long in the memory, while they were denied another famous win over the French champions only because of a ridiculous VAR call.
They defended well enough in the draw with AC Milan at San Siro and the two losses to Borussia Dortmund in the so-called ‘group of death’ were tight.
Losing at home to Milan despite taking the lead was perhaps the biggest disappointment but it’s not as if Newcastle looked out of their depth.
It’s now incredibly unlikely they will be back there next season but PIF’s aim will surely be to ensure that Newcastle enjoy those kind of nights again.
Still, one former Toon player will be involved in the final stages of the competition.
It could have been so different, too.
Joselu says he could have stayed at Newcastle
Joselu, who left Newcastle in 2019, and has enjoyed a stunning turnaround in fortune since.
The striker only scored seven goals in 52 games for the Magpies but impressed enough at Alaves to earn a return to boyhood club, Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants face a date with Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals this month and Joselu has now admitted things have may been different.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, he confirmed he could have actually stayed at St James’.
“I had signed for four years at Newcastle. I could have stayed and picked up my money and not played but I wanted to compete.”
Joselu and Newcastle have both gone on to good things
Joselu leaving Newcastle was clearly good for his career. Indeed, it’s difficult to imagine Madrid coming in for him had he not gone to Alaves first.
Newcastle, meanwhile, were able to bring Callum Wilson in a year later even before the takeover and later signed Alexander Isak, who Howe now wants to build around.
Their parting of the ways has worked out for everyone.
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