Kieran Trippier has revealed he would have stayed at Atletico Madrid if it was 'about the money' rather than join Newcastle United.
Atletico certainly did not want to lose Trippier and the England international admitted he 'could have signed a new deal' at the Metropolitano Stadium before he left. However, Trippier had always wanted to return to the north of England for family reasons so the 32-year-old's mind was effectively made up when Newcastle came in for him.
Although Diego Simeone understood why Trippier wanted to join Newcastle, the Atletico boss even tried to convince the England international to stay at the club in the car park at the training ground on the day he said his goodbyes. Simeone reiterated that he did not want to lose Trippier, but the right-back stuck to his guns and swapped life in the Champions League for an immediate relegation battle with no escape clauses.
READ MORE: What Eddie Howe tells signings in presentation - and they have another reason to join Newcastle
Pundit Simon Jordan previously claimed that Trippier joined Newcastle for 'one reason and one reason only', because the 'economic package suits him at this stage of his career', but there was more to it than that.
"If people think it was about money then I should have stayed in Madrid because I got a new three-year contract there," he told the Under the Cosh podcast. "If it was about money, I would have stayed.
"I know it wasn't about money. I had other things that were happening at the time, which were more important than money. That's why I came back to England. It doesn't bother me that people say that. That's just their opinion."
READ NEXT
Newcastle break boost Spurs, Manchester United and Man City won't have as scary warning sent
Eddie Howe loved what Newcastle players did after Chelsea sub Kai Havertz squared up to Dan Burn
What angered Kai Havertz as Newcastle take Liverpool pain and expertly use dark arts vs Chelsea
Chelsea's own commentator hammers Kai Havertz and co during Newcastle bust-up for lack of fight
Newcastle's streetwise transformation angers Chelsea as Lascelles winds them up and coach fumes
