Had Newcastle appointed Steve Bruce as manager earlier in the summer, Mo Diame would likely still be playing for the club, the pair having been together previously at Hull.
The Chronicle reported Diame also said he would have been happy to play for his former manager again, had the opportunity been afforded to him.
Despite being offered a one-year extension to his deal, 32-year-old Diame opted to leave, rather than find himself with the same dilemma at the end of this season.
He ended up signing for Qatar Stars League side Al Ahli, who are one of several clubs based in the capital city, Doha.
Diame has started every game for his new club, in both the League and the Qatar Stars League Cup (QSL Cup), and had not yet managed to get on the score-sheet.
But that all changed on Saturday, when Diame scored a 21st minute equaliser for Al Ahli in the third round of QSL Cup games.
His side were 2-0 behind after just 12 minutes, but Diame’s strike brought the sides level, as he added to a 13th minute goal from Abel Hernandez – who Diame played with before, signing for Hull at the same time as his current teammate.
Diame’s Al Ahli side went on to win an exciting encounter 4-3, leaving them second in the table of the round robin cup competition, and giving them a great chance of progressing.
Diame’s new side currently sit mid-table
In the league, the former Toon enforcer’s side are enduring an up and down campaign, with them currently sitting seventh of 12 sides, having won four, drawn one and lost five of their first 10 games.
Diame’s spell in Newcastle was similarly up and down, and while he often had some poor performances, there were times when he was virtually unplayable.
Although it was probably the right decision, and time, for him to leave, it was sad to see him go, and most Newcastle fans will be thrilled to see him scoring for his new club, and will wish him every success going forward.
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