Mathieu Lacour, director of Stade de Reims, believes his former player would have been better suited to joining Newcastle than the Ligue 1 champions, citing Champions League qualification and Alexander Isak’s success on Tyneside as examples.
After turning down the chance to join the club in January and June 2022, Newcaste smashed their transfer record by signing Isak from Real Sociedad for £63 million. Instead, the French teenager chose to join PSG on a loan deal that was then made permanent for £29 million during the summer.
The Magpies were said to have agreed a deal of £26 million with Reims before the trade fell through owing to agent demands.
Ekitike scored four goals in 32 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain during their difficult 2022-23 season. PSG tried to unload the 21-year-old during the summer, but he turned down a move to Eintracht Frankfurt, despite Premier League interest from West Ham United and Nottingham Forest.
Ekitike’s decision to stay at PSG has cost him his place in the first team, as he has been shut out of the squad for the Champions League. He was forced to watch his team’s 4-1 loss to Newcastle earlier this month from his living room.
Reims director Lacour addressed Le Club des 5 about the move so far: “We never have as many scouts [visit] as we do now.” when we had Hugo Ekitike. We have never had so many clubs.
“It was incredible. [Joining PSG] was both his and his agent’s choice. Perhaps he could have expressed himself better in another project.”
Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in over 20 years after missing out on Ekitike.
“When I see Newcastle, who pushed hard in January and June, when you see today the way Isak is flourishing at Newcastle, perhaps we would be talking today about Hugo like we are about Isak,” Lacour went on to say.
“It’s his choice of profession.” I’m not condemning what he did. He’s French, and playing with Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe…I get it.”
