Several Premier League managers vent fury at Newcastle takeover during press conference

Several Premier League managers vent fury at Newcastle takeover when holding their press conference ahead of the weekend’s matches.

Jürgen Klopp was most vocal about it as he said the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters, should explain why the controversial takeover of the Magpies was allowed given Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights.

Premier League clubs called an emergency meeting to discuss the takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the speed at which it was agreed.

Amnesty International, which described Saudi Arabia’s human rights record as “atrocious”, has urged the MP Tracey Crouch to make owners’ and directors’ rules “human rights-compliant” in her review of football governance.

The Liverpool manager also compared the Newcastle deal to the thwarted Super League attempt by 12 European clubs – including his own – and insisted Masters had a responsibility to break his silence on the takeover.

Klopp said: “I was waiting for some official statements about it from Richard Masters or someone. We all know there are obviously some concerns over human rights issues. That’s clear. We all think the same there. It [a statement] didn’t happen.
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“What will it mean for football? A few months ago we had a massive argument – issue – the whole football world, with 12 clubs trying to build a Super League. Rightly so. It didn’t happen, but this is kind of creating a super team if you want. It’s pretty much the same; guaranteed spots in the Champions League in a few years time. Financial fair play nowadays, nobody knows exactly if it still exists or not.

“Newcastle fans will love it but for the rest of us it just means there is a new superpower in Newcastle. We cannot avoid that. Money cannot buy everything but over time they will have enough money to make a few wrong decisions, then make the right decisions, and then they will be where they want to be in the long term. Everybody knows that, and obviously the Premier League, Richard Masters, thought: ‘Yeah, let’s give it a go.’”

Referring to Abu Dhabi with Manchester City and Qatar with Paris Saint-German, he added: “As far as I know it’s the third club that is owned by a country. I’m not sure how many countries are still out there who have the financial power and interest to do so, but this is how it is, and what we have to deal with.”

Masters remained in Klopp’s sights when the manager was asked whether Saudi investment would cause further damage to the reputation of England’s top flight. “Don’t ask me about the reputation of the Premier League,” he responded.

“If you think there is damage to the reputation then write it. Without my saying, please. And if you do get in contact with Richard Masters send him my regards because I have never had contact with him. Never is not right, maybe once or twice, but he is the only person who could explain how it could happen. And in the end we will see what it will damage or not. It’s not really about me to say that – it is for other people.”

Amnesty has also requested a meeting with Masters over the takeover and, prior to the first game of the Saudi-led era against Spurs on Sunday, repeated its call for the Newcastle deal to prompt a strengthening of ownership rules.

Meanwhile, speaking about concerns over whether the money came from to fund the Newcastle takeover, Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said: “I think it’s normal people have concerns.

“We trust the Premier League, they have accepted and they are the authorities. They have allowed it and Newcastle have new owners.

“The new owners seem to be promising for a famous club in England and it seems we have a new competitor for titles and places in the top ranking.

“We play in the toughest league and it always seems to get tougher.”

Speaking about Newcastle’s recent takeover, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said: “Looks like Newcastle fans are happy.

“It’s a business that has taken over a club and the people are happy. I’m far away from the reasons why the decision was made.”

Crystal Palace’s Patrick Vieira on the Newcastle takeover: “It’s a good news for Newcastle football club, I think it’s good news for Newcastle’s fans and it’s good for the city of Newcastle. We have to be happy for them. It’s how it’s been the last couple of years. We just have to deal with it.”

Speaking about Newcastle’s recent takeover, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “It has not been my focus but I noticed it has happened.

“It is going to change the picture. I didn’t think it would go through but it has. It’s a fantastic club with traditions.

“Long-term it will be interesting to watch. It has been the talk of football. It is results they want but it is not my focus. I don’t want to join the political discussion.”

Everton boss Rafa Benitez on the Newcastle takeover: “I have a great relationship with the fans at Newcastle and with the city, so I don’t think it is fair to talk too much about it. I decided to stay here; I’m really happy, and I’m focussed. I wish (Newcastle) all the best.”

Benitez on money to spend after Newcastle takeover: “My experience as a manager means I’ve never had much money, maybe at one or two clubs. But I try to spend it wisely; if you have money, you can buy better players, if you don’t, you have to be careful.”

Speaking about the Newcastle takeover, Aston Villa boss Dean Smith says he has been “flabbergasted” with the media attention Magpies boss Steve Bruce has received.

“The media attention to his job role at the moment is over the top,” said Smith.

“For me Steve Bruce is the manager of Newcastle United Football Club.

“Is it news he’s taking training? No, he’s the manager he’s there to take training.

“I’ve been flabbergasted with the amount of exposure on Bruce.

“It’s a club that’s been taken over with an awful lot of finance, it’s how they use that now.”

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says Newcastle have been “crying out” for investement for some time, and believes that as a general rule, investment in the Premier League is “a good thing”.

“I’m not the person who decides if you’re allowed to bring these people in to the Premier League,” Hasenhuttl told reporters on Thursday.

“In general, investment in the Premier League is a good thing. It’s a big chance for a club, when you want to transform it and change the team. You need a lot of money when you have a Premier League club.

“Newcastle haven’t invested to too much in the past so they’re all crying out for more investment, and now with their new owners, they have plenty of new options.

“The transfer window is closed now, so it’s not possible until the winter break for them to invest, but it will definitely change the opportunities they have as club and will make a huge impact.”

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani has urged the Premier League to ensure Newcastle adhere to Financial Fair Play Regulations following their £300m takeover by a Saudi Arabia-backed consortium.

“Money in football is not always equal to success, it’s been shown many times,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I think we have a brilliant project run by Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta on the football, and we will continue with our strategy to focus on our recruitment and grow our own players.

“This year, for example, we had more than 16 national-team players in our youth teams, and in the last Under 20 England team we had four players on the pitch and two on the bench.

“This is synonymous (with) good investment in the youth and in the academy.

“At the same time, obviously a club like Newcastle or Manchester City – owned and controlled by sovereign funds – they have unlimited possibilities.

“That’s why I believe the Premier League should apply fair-play regulation to make sure we play fair, we play in the same competition with similar opportunities.”

Fans reacted as several Premier League managers vent fury at the Newcastle takeover during their press conference…

@ollieleeb: #NUFC can exponentially increase the amount of money that comes in from every single source from now so FFP won’t be an issue at all. So many bitter people about. Gotta love it #ConsiderablyRicherThanYao 🤣

@BaldDavid1967:
VVD £75m
Jota £45m
Thiago £50m
Newcastle are awful mate

@geordiealmiron: I absolutely love it how everyone hates us right now, nobody has this problem with city or PSG, but soon as Newcastle rock the town wow 😂😂😂😂

@arungooner5: Where was this energy when Man City and Chelsea were taken over?

@KgantshiKG: Klopp was not in the prem? And they got slandered as well by the people of that time calling them Oil clubs?

@5yntax_Err0r: Whilst Newcastle haven’t had a pot to piss in over the years and we have seen our club run into the ground, Liverpool have quite happily splashed out a significant amount of cash without any concern about the gulf in clubs finances, its all good when your looking down on others.

@NUFCLC: Wondered how long it would take for this big baby to say something

@LagerlagerSmith: I’m a wolves fan and if this take over breaks up the prem cartel then brilliant the big 6 have had it all there own way for far to long 👍

@wuds100: Nobody batted a eyelid when they bought Beardsley so we could build a stand or Carroll for a record fee, I’m sure Klopp would love Mike Ashley to still own us and keep us on a leash.

@The__Farmster: I mean. It’s not the same. It’s bringing additional and varied competition to an environment where six clubs had done their best to stop that happening. His being one.

@Mark74NUFC: Eh? How is a club changing ownership the same as a club, together with 5 other clubs, trying to breakaway to form an elite, exclusive league?

@SH35dv5e7: True. If unregulated Newcastle could spend 500m every summer. That would make football obsolete. This is why ffp is important but ffp has to change because there are loopholes that City allegedly use like over inflated sponsorship deals.

@Coryjgraham: I agree with this but tbf, with the shite investment Newcastle have had from Ashley, they could spend 500m in January without any sponsorship deal and still wouldn’t break FFP rules

@DanLang12: No Jurgen not the same at all the club who pay you tried to to destroy English football. Newcastle are not doing that we will be playing in the premier league and maybe in 4 or 5 years we might challenge top clubs who knows. Just enjoy the competition. 👌🏻

@NUFCLC: Aye and his club was one of them?

@Nyarris: It’s absolutely not the same. The super league removed competition whereas this increases competition at the top of the league.

Bitter much!!! pic.twitter.com/rk9OhjqLSQ

— Magpie 24/7 – Newcastle United (@Magpie24_7) October 15, 2021