MY TOON DREAM
SALOMON Rondon always wears a big smile when he talks about Rafa Benitez and Newcastle.
Despite finding himself caught between two countries in lockdown limbo, Rondon cherishes the memories of St James’ Park as the best of his career and still harbours a dream of returning one day.
The 30-year-old is currently in Malaga. He was given permission to return to Spain for the birth of his third child, Romeo, last month and is still waiting for the green light to fly back to China.
The striker teamed up with Benitez again at Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional last year but could never have dreamed his first season in the Far East would turn out like this.
Rondon remains respectful to his club in China. He enjoyed his time in the Far East before the league was suspended but cannot hide his desire to return to Europe in the future. The Venezuela centre forward has kept a close eye on the developments at Newcastle, including the potential takeover, and has no hesitation when the idea is put to him.
“If you ask me again if I want to come back, then of course. I have no doubt about going back to Newcastle,” he said.
“St James’ Park is so big. I remember going there for the first time, I think my two kids were with me, I went for a walk in the stadium and I took a picture when I went in the entrance.Then you think 50,000 fans will be there.
“It was fantastic for me. To play there as a player is fantastic. But of course, my priority now is in China and we will see what happens with the virus and the league. But if you give me the chance to come back, then I will take it. It’s interesting what’s happening, I follow it very closely.
“I hope it will be a good decision because I think Newcastle can be such a big team in the Premier League. It’s such a big club and I think with the right project, then the club could be top five, top four.”
Rondon has already had an amazing career. Malaga clearly made a mark on him 10 years ago as he kept a house there.
He spent three years in Russia with Rubin Kazan and Zenit Saint Petersburg, before Tony Pulis brought him to West Brom in 2015. It was while he was in the Midlands that he had a year on loan at Newcastle.
Rondon established his link and respect for Benitez while at the Toon and that is what persuaded him to go to China.
Rondon said: “I love working with him, he tried to help me a lot. He is amazing, a coach who I learned a lot from in my career and he’s a legend, an amazing manager.”