Mike Ashley should hang his head in shame for some of the things he did at Newcastle United.
The former owner is hated on Tyneside for his 14 years of horror which was full of mismanagement, negligence and sorrow.
Newcastle United were relegated twice under Mike Ashley’s ownership. Thankfully they were able to return to the top flight at the first time of asking. Toon fans will look back on the 2016/17 season with more fond memories than the 2009/10 campaign, however.
Rafael Benitez was in charge, and it felt like Newcastle were going to make something under his management. Benitez got Newcastle back up and had them finish 10th in their first season back in the Premier League. The Spaniard signed players who still play for the club to this day. The likes of Martin Dubravka and defender Fabian Schar are still prominent figures in Newcastle’s first-team squad, with the latter playing almost every Premier League game this season.
Ashley was never fond of splashing the cash on transfers. Jarrod Bowen nearly joined Newcastle, but Ashey wasn’t willing to pay the £18m needed to bring him in. He went on to win a European trophy.
Newcastle could have signed another star for just £16.5m after a successful loan spell, but once again Ashley was too reluctant to spend the money.
Salomon Rondon could’ve stayed at Newcastle
Former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon was sensational during his loan spell on Tyneside. The Venezuelan fully embraced the city and the fans – his performances on the pitch reflected that.
Rondon scored 12 goals and bagged seven assists on his loan spell with the Magpies and has taken what he was taught under Benitez everywhere he has been since.
His form was enough for Benitez to ask Ashley to pay his £16.5m release clause to bring him to the club permanently. Ashley refused and Benitez left the club.
Despite leaving abruptly, Rondon still loves Newcastle and has even gone as far as to say he would’ve gone back if the chance was there.
In an interview with the Guardian, Rondon said: “But if I had a chance to sign again for Newcastle I would do it for sure because they gave me a lot and I felt so much when I was at St James’.”
After leaving Newcastle, things have gone well for him. In 2024, Rondon was named as a nominee for the best FIFA men’s XI in 2024 for his outstanding season with Mexican side Pachuca, a club that coincidentally plays in black and white.
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Salomon Rondon’s career after Newcastle
It’s fair to say that Rondon’s career has taken many strange turns since leaving Newcastle in 2019. Rondon joined Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang to play under Benitez once again in 2019. He was then loaned to CSKA Moscow in February 2021.
Rondon reunited with Benitez again at Everton in a triumphant return to the Premier League for both players.
Rondon made his Everton debut alongside Andros Townsend, another player who was managed by Benitez at Newcastle. Sadly, the move would not work out for either of them with Benitez being sacked and Rondon scoring just three times in two seasons.
Rondon signed for River Plate before moving to Pachuca in 2024 where he remains now. Now 35, the Venezuelan is beginning to slow down, only scoring three goals in eight league games. But Newcastle fans will never forget his contributions in that season and wish they could have seen much more of him.
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