I didn’t know what
MIDFIELDER AT CENTRE OF DEAL THAT SPARKED A CIVIL WAR SPEAKS OF ILL-FATED MOVE
DENNIS Wise had not even bothered to spell Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Gonzalez’s name right when the Newcastle United executive director first messaged Kevin Keegan about a Uruguayan player he had heard ‘great things about’.
Keegan had been preparing his pre-match team talk in a London hotel ahead of Newcastle’s game at Arsenal when his phone buzzed. However, after doing some brief research – Keegan was asked to watch a grainy y YouTube clip of Gonzalez – the Magpies’ boss told d Wise that the midfielder ldder was not what ata they were look- ing for.
Despite making himself clear, Gonzalez and Xisco, another r Spanish-speakk king import, ort,o arrived without th hout Keegan’s say-so yso on deadline day in September 2008.
The Magpies legend later felt bad when he declined the opportunity to be photographed with the new signings at St James’ Park, but the double deal proved the straw that broke the camel’s back as he resigned in disgust. Gonzalez, who had just completed a move from Danubio to Valencia before immediately being loaned loanedd out to Newcastle, insists h he ‘did not find out’ abb about what really was going on behind the scenes until he read about Keegan’s tribunal on the internet. The 38-yearo old makes a fair p point: “It speaks ba bad about the ageen agents and the club but noo not me.” KeeganKegan Keegan revealed after leaving the club that Newcastle’s decision to sign Gonzalez on loan was merely a favour for two agents, Marcelo Lombilla and
Paco Casal, who had helped United complete deals for Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez earlier that summer.
But Keegan was supposed to have the final say on transfers and the Newcastle legend later won a case against the club for constructive dismissal and was awarded £2m in damages plus interest.
However, it is easy to forget that Gonzalez was just a player fulfilling his dream of playing in the Premier League – however strange the circumstances surrounding his move were.
In fact, he had not even formally met his new team-mates before he made his Newcastle debut.
Following a 16-hour return flight from Montevideo to London, Gonzalez presumed he would be watching the Magpies’ clash against Hull City from the stands. However, the Uruguay international was wrong.
“I arrived on the same day as the game. It was crazy,” he said. “I arrived in London at 11am on Saturday and while I was in customs, the club called me to tell me that there was a private
When I arrived, the fans were angry and upset with the board but they supported the team until the very end Ignacio Gonzalez
plane ready to take me to Newcastle because I was going to be on the bench against Hull.
“I could not believe it. I was really tired and I had only eaten on the flight but, at the same time, I was really excited.
“As soon as I entered the dressing room, I saw Michael Owen, Jonas Gutierrez and [Fabricio] Coloccini. I thought that was incredible.” While Gonzalez was trying on boots – his were with his luggage and he didn’t have time to pick them up – thousands of supporters were making their feelings clear about Ashley, Wise and Newcastle’s hierarchy outside the Milburn Stand reception following Keegan’s departure a week previously.
Only Derek Llambias, the managing director, bothered to attend the game and take his seat in a deserted directors’ box.
A ‘Cockney mafia’ banner was later paraded inside the ground to a standing ovation from all four corners during the Magpies’ 2-1 defeat.
Gonzalez knew the fans were ‘annoyed’ and that they were ‘going to protest’ as his family had brought him up to speed on what was happening but, regardless, the Uruguayan never forgot the moment he replaced Shola Ameobi just after the hour mark.
“I came on when we were losing 2-0 and Xisco pulled one back,” he said. “Unfortunately, we could not find an equaliser but, personally, it was a joy to have made my debut that day. I was living the dream.
“The supporters really are so passionate. The atmosphere in the stadium was incredible. Obviously, when I arrived, the fans were angry and upset with the board but, even in that difficult year, they supported the team until the very end.”
That cameo against Hull would prove one of just two appearances Gonzalez made in a Newcastle shirt in his only season at the club.
However, even from the sidelines, the loanee experienced one of the most chaotic campaigns in recent memory as Joe Kinnear, Chris Hughton and Alan Shearer all had spells in the dugout and the Magpies were relegated on the final day of the season.
“I’m sorry I had that injury that prevented me from playing all season,” Gonzalez said. “It was my first serious injury and it really took me a long time to recover.
“It all started as simple tendonitis but it turned out to be more serious – a ruptured Achilles tendon – and I had to have surgery in Finland.
“I felt a lot of frustration in not being able to help the team, especially because of the results at the time and where we were in the table.”
Gonzalez looks back particularly fondly on his time under caretaker boss Hughton – ‘a great person and a good coach’ – but acknowledges that ‘ having so many managers reflected what a bad season it was’.
Despite his arrival being inextricably linked with Keegan’s departure, Gonzalez has some special memories of Tyneside.
“I shared some beautiful moments at the training ground with my team-mates and I also had some beautiful moments with my wife, Alejandra, getting to know the city of Newcastle, the Geordies and the area,” he added.
“I shared some very nice moments with Jonas Gutierrez, Fabricio Coloccini, Xisco, Jose Enrique and their families, too.
“I also have to mention the staff who worked every day so we never wanted for anything, whether it was the kit men, the cleaners or the chefs in the kitchen.
“I remember the physios, especially Derek [Wright], who was a great person and we spent a lot of time together because of the injury. I remember Dr Ian [McGuinness], too, who was very good to me, and the people in charge of security at the academy and the stadium.
“I also remember the Geordies fondly. They were very friendly and treated me and my wife very well.”