Former Newcastle United winger Chris Waddle has criticised Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon for the manner of their departures from St James' Park, saying they are "no better" than Alexander Isak.
Waddle's criticism of the exits
Newcastle needed to sell players this summer to invest in the squad while complying with UEFA financial rules. Gordon and Tonali left early in the window, joining Barcelona and Tottenham respectively, while Guimaraes made it clear he wanted to leave, with a £75m move to Arsenal agreed last week.
Speaking to Snabbare, Waddle said: "Arsenal looked solid in midfield last season and Bruno did so well at Newcastle but it goes to show you, doesn’t it? Newcastle was his life. He loved the football club. Within three months he’s gone. He wanted out. He asked for a transfer."
Allegations of disingenuous behaviour
Waddle accused the trio of not being honest with supporters. "I don’t know why he didn’t come out with it at the end of last season to say he’s enjoyed his time but now he wants to go. Don’t lead the fans up the garden path telling them you love Newcastle," he said.
He added: "Let’s be honest, him and Sandro Tonali have been angling to leave Newcastle for months. It doesn’t come out of nowhere. For the last year or so we’ve been hearing about Anthony Gordon being linked with Arsenal and Liverpool. Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali were linked with Liverpool and Manchester United. It just so happens that the three players who have left are the three who had all the rumours spinning around them?"
Comparison with Isak and Waddle's own exit
Waddle contrasted the exits with Isak's departure last summer, when the Swede effectively went on strike to force a move to Liverpool. "For me, there’s no difference between what Alexander Isak did and what Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali have done this summer. Isak downed tools but at least he was up front in saying I want to leave," he said.
Reflecting on his own transfer to Tottenham in 1985, Waddle said: "A lot of people thought I jumped ship when I left Newcastle United but people forget I was never offered a contract. They ran down my contract and I never got offered a new one. What was I supposed to do, sit in the car park waiting for one? I got the Judas treatment for that."
He concluded: "When they go back to St James’ Park, will they be cheered or will they get booed? There’s no difference in my eyes between those three and Isak."
