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SALOMON RONDON is revelling in his role as the latest owner of Newcastle’s iconic No.9 shirt.
The striker, set to start his first Toon game in today’s lunchtime kick-off at Cardiff, loves the adulation which comes with it.
He admits the raucous reception he received from a sell-out St James’ Park crowd when coming on as a second-half sub against Tottenham last weekend blew both him and his family away.
Rondon, both in stature and character, seems a natural fit for a shirt worn by Geordie legends such as Alan Shearer, Supermac (Malcolm Macdonald) and Wor Jackie Milburn.
He wants to be a big noise on Tyneside after joining on a season-long loan from West Brom, and he’s happy to meet his fans when he’s out with his wife and young family.
Troubled
And if he’s making headlines and becomes the face of Rafa Benitez’s side this season, so much the better, because that will mean he’s doing the business on the pitch.
The fiercely patriotic Venezuelan is his nation’s most high-profile footballing export and Rondon is rightly proud of his achievements in Spain, Russia and, for the past three years, England.
But success has come at a high price for the 28-year-old, who cannot enjoy the fruits of his labours back home in the way he hopes to around the streets of Newcastle.
He has previously talked about the downside of being one of his troubled country’s most famous sportsmen and the fact he cannot walk around Caracas in the way he can 5,000 miles away from his homeland.
“Life in Caracas is not life,” he said shortly after arriving at West Brom from Zenit St Petersburg. “The city is chaos. You cannot live there now.”
Almost three years on and he admits the situation is far from straightforward for him and his family, given his parents still live in Venezuela.
“I am a footballer, not an economist, but of ®Êby IAN MURTAGH
course it is a bad situation for the people there, for me as well and for all Venezuelans around the world because we’ve got family there,” he said.
“It is a difficult moment. I did not go back this summer. I know my position as the only player in the Premier League. Everyone recognises me. It is best I stay quiet. My mum and dad, it is better to get them to visit me.”
While Rondon knows he has a responsibility to the Geordie nation, it is his own people who drive him on.
“The only way to make them happy or for them to forget their problems is by playing football,” he said. “Every weekend, they try to watch the Premier League and La Liga. It is a distraction.
“Moving here has been big news for the people. They would call and ask, ‘Are you going to Newcastle?’. You can say nothing because they are negotiating. When it was official, people were very happy.”
Rondon prefers not to draw attention to himself back home but is desperate to become the latest South American hit with Newcastle.
Lucky
“I know all about the amazing players who have been here – Nolberto Solano, Jonas Gutierrez, how well they did.
“And growing up, I watched Tino Asprilla and that hat-trick against Barcelona. That was big because in Venezuela, and the whole of South American, everyone loves their football so much.”
Rondon added: “Of course I feel lucky to be here. When West Brom went down, it was difficult and I am just really grateful to be back in the Premier League again.
“My target is to score goals and stay here permanently. I know all about the No.9s. When I signed my contract, there was a picture of all the great goalscorers – Alan Shearer at the top with 206.
“So the pressure is big but I like that. And I want to make the fans proud by wearing this shirt like Shearer did.”