NEWCASTLE UNITED have denied that Michael Emenalo turned down an offer to become the club’s new director of football.
Emenalo had allegedly been the Magpies’ top target for the position ever since the Saudi-led £305million-takeover was completed two months ago.
That was after his stunning six-year stint as Chelsea technical director.
The Telegraph claimed yesterday that the 56-year-old decided the role was not a good fit and that the Toon do not match his ambitious plans after talks with director Amanda Staveley.
Newcastle co-owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi has now denied those claims and insists that Emenalo was never offered the job.
Ghodoussi, who is married to Staveley, issued the denial in a Tweet on Sunday.
He said: “Contrary to a newspaper report, Michael Emenalo was never offered the job of Sporting Director or Director of Football at Newcastle United. #NUFC #FactsMatter.”
The report had stated that Emenalo travelled to Saudi Arabia to hold talks with the club’s hierarchy.
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It said that he made presentations outlining his short-term plan of avoiding relegation as well as long-term aspirations of becoming Premier League champions.
But it was claimed that a delay in talks and different ideas were the catalyst that led to Emenalo’s decision and not the club’s ongoing relegation scrap.
Emenalo was appointed in a similar capacity at Chelsea in 2011 and spent six successful years at Stamford Bridge before joining Monaco.
He was credited for star signings, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Mohamed Salah, N’Golo Kante and Eden Hazard.
Emenalo also brought in Juan Mata, Thibaut Courtois and Cesc Fabregas during his stint in west London.
He has been praised for building the infrastructure for the club’s incredible youth academy, which saw the emergence of top players like Mason Mount, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and many more.
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