Remy reveals how close he was to joining Newcastle and why he left Marseille

Remy reveals how close he was to joining Newcastle and why he left Marseille
Loic Remy. Photo: Nigel French/EMPICS Loic Remy. Photo: Nigel French/EMPICS
By Tom MooreSaturday, January 19, 2013
12:42 AM







QPR new boy Loic Remy revealed that it came down to a straight choice between a move to Newcastle and Loftus Road.





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The 26-year-old had spoken to Magpies boss Alan Pardew and Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes.

It had been suggested that Remy preferred to stay in London but he insisted that it was not part of his plan.

“I was as close to moving to Newcastle as I was close to moving to QPR,” Remy said. “I met Alan Pardew and I met Tony Fernandes. I wasn’t any closer to joining Newcastle than QPR. I had to make a decision and unlike what was reported, I wasn’t in advanced stage of talks with Newcastle. It was very much between the two.

“To be honest, I considered a lot of factors when I made my decision here. London wasn’t the overriding motivation here.

“I’ve heard Newcastle is up in the north and it is cold but it’s not really relevant.

“I’m very excited about working Harry Redknapp but Newcastle are a good club as well.

“It wasn’t the issue of being in London that made my decision for me. There are a lot of reasons behind it.”

It appeared that a move to Loftus Road was not going to happen as manager Harry Redknapp claimed that Remy did not want to join QPR, but the player had a different version of events.

“I didn’t refuse to speak to him,” he said. “I was thinking about my future at that time.

“I didn’t want him to expect me to join at that time. I didn’t want him to think I was going to join. I was thinking about my future.

“My agent explained that to him. I spoke to him afterwards. We went for a meal. It wasn’t a lack of respect.

“Given all the attention he’s shown in me over the last two years, it’d have been bad manners on my part to lack respect.”

Tony Fernandes came round to Remy’s house to help seal the deal and it was a move that the 26-year-old considered to be one of the great moments in his career.

“I don’t know if I should say who won as he might get angry,” he said. “We played Fifa. It’s not something I expected.




“It will stay with me as one of my great memories in football. I won. We played two matches I won them both.

“He could certainly be a match for some of my friends at Fifa. He chose Argentina and I chose Bayern Munich.”

The 26-year-old admitted that he would have been happy to stay at Marseille and it appears that the French club were keen to offload him.

Remy explained: “There were several reasons why I left Marseille. I had two and a half good years at Marseille.

“We separated on good terms but the club had said to me that I didn’t have the yield they hoped for.

I was happy to have stayed at Marseille. Coming to QPR is a great change.

“I did the for and against [of QPR and Newcastle] but I preferred QPR.

“I read that French people didn’t understand why I chose a club [that was struggling]. “At Marseille the coach made me advance in a lot of ways. It was a surprise for the French press but I had not spoken for a bit - I shut down for a while.

“I’m not denigrating anyone at Marseille. You mustn’t spit. I was a bit surprised by the behaviour of the management.

“They waited until the last minute to tell me to pack my bags. I wanted to stay. Marseille had other people and objectives in mind. They were no longer counting on me.

“I did expect the club to sell me but I was a bit surprised. I was attached to the club and had no reason to leave. I have no regrets. I’m grateful to be here.

“QPR and Newcastle are both in a delicate position. It will be hard. If there is relegation I will rethink and so will my agent.

“I never contested the coaches’ decisions at Marseille. I have to do my job properly.

“It’s been very quick. I had a week’s notice of QPR and Newcastle’s interest. I wanted to stay but there was pressure. It must make me progress being at QPR.”

 

I’ve heard Newcastle is up in the north and it is cold but it’s not really relevant


no of course we believe you
two great reasons not to go anywhere near the place though

 

So it WAS the money then! Why doesn't he just come out and tell it like it is?

While we're on the facts rather than the ill-reported waffle above, our Rem's a 1 in 3 type of a guy. Bit sometime-ish though and OM ran out of patience.

So what says this non-starter from a lesser league should be coveted like he's the next prem icon?

Well two things spring to mind. One he looks a bit like Thierry Henry so there must be something there; and the other is 'Arry, so I don't wanna put the mockers on it!! Bet he's clamping the jump-leads on as we speak! I'AWT... (one for Norf that one!)

 

Cos he doesn't mean any disrespect to you, Brix

 

Meeting with Alan pardew. How exciting.

 

Yeah there's always that Yappy. Keep forgetting how senior I'm getting (touch of the Bartons for ya)!

 

Come on mate. Be supportive. He's one of us now. He really is. So am I. U Rrrrrrrrrrs

 

An altruistic footballer? No, they all come for the money, if they say anything different they're lying...

 

I have no problem with money being a major, if not the deciding factor. Surely we're all money motivated, aren't we? For me the important thing is that Remy sets about proving that he's worthy of that investment. To say that OM were disappointed with his "yield" is a concern, isn't it? I hope that messrs Redknapp and Jordan help him become a better player... And quickly.

 

Come on Brix you know it's all about the money. You think Derry and Hill play for free? As long as a player give his 100% then I don't care really.