Newcastle United don finally sign AC Milan defender, Malick Thiaw, and no be small thing! The 24-year-old Germany international waka come Tyneside for a juicy fee of £30 million plus added bonuses that fit carry am to about £34.6 million. E be like say Newcastle don finally find the centre-back wey dem dey find since.
Thiaw wey come from Milan don make 85 appearances for the club since im join in 2022, and now im dey look forward to the big stage at St James' Park. He talk say, “I dey very excited to join this massive club.” (True true, who no go dey excited to join a club wey get better fans?!)
The manager, Eddie Howe, don talk say Thiaw go add serious quality to the Magpies’ defence. Him don see how Thiaw sabi play from their Champions League encounter last season. During that game, Thiaw help Milan hold Newcastle for a goalless draw, and now im become part of their squad – as dem say, ‘what goes around, comes around’!
Newcastle wahala for the transfer market no be small, as dem don miss out on many players dis season. Many players wey dem want don move go other clubs, but thank God say Thiaw don finally land. He be strong player wey fit use im height (6ft 4in) and speed to play with Newcastle’s preferred high line.
Thiaw dey like operat as either right or left-sided centre-back, and e fit play well for midfield too if the manager wan use am there. This boy dey technically gifted; him don show say him fit pass ball very well, and dat one go help Newcastle when dem dey attack. Last season, na only two defenders for Serie A get better passing accuracy than him 93.6%!
For Newcastle, dis signing na big boost, especially as dem dey prepare for Premier League opener against Aston Villa dis weekend. No be every day you dey see young players wey get Champions League experience, and Thiaw fit help the club dey more competitive.
But e no go dey easy to fill the shoes of veterans wey dey for defence like Dan Burn and Fabian Schar wey don pass 30 years. But Thiaw go fit learn under Eddie Howe, wey sabi how to develop players very well.
With Thiaw now onboard, fans dey hopeful say dis season go different from the last, wey dem finish eighth despite winning some silverware. If Newcastle fit continue to strengthen, who know, maybe dis go be dem year to surprise the league?
We dey watch oo! Make we see how Thiaw go blend in with im new teammates and how e go respond to the pressures wey come with playing for a top club like Newcastle. The gaffer don get big plans for am, and we dey expect nothing but the best.
So, as dem say in Naija, make we pop some palm wine to toast to Malick Thiaw’s new journey! Welcome to Newcastle!
