Moussa Sissoko has claimed that Florian Thauvin 'didn't have enough time' at Newcastle United after his former team-mate chose to leave the club just five months after his arrival.
Newcastle looked to have pulled off a coup when the Magpies signed the highly-rated winger from Marseille for £12m in 2015. However, Thauvin never settled at St James' Park and the Frenchman made just 16 appearances for the club before returning to Marseille on loan, initially, in the mid-season window ahead of the switch later being made permanent.
Thauvin went on to win the World Cup with France so was this a case of a player ill-suited to life in England or one who simply needed more time? Few are better-placed to comment than Sissoko, who not only knows what it is like to make the step up from Ligue 1 to the Premier League, but who also shared a dressing room with Thauvin for both club and country.
READ MORE: FIFA make announcement that could bank Newcastle at least £25m if owners realise long-term dream
"Florian didn't have enough time," Sissoko told ChronicleLive. "He was coming from Marseille, such a big club, and people expected him to perform straight away.
"People don't wait. They want a result straight away. Sometimes it can take time for players. It was difficult.
"He couldn't speak English. It was a new city, a new style of football. After a few months, he decided to leave and, honestly, I don't know if it was the best thing to do but he made his choice. If he was happy like that, good for him."
Thauvin had his agent and girlfriend with him when he touched down on Tyneside, but the winger relied heavily on an interpreter from the get-go, whether it was ordering food or opening a bank account. Former team-mate Steven Taylor previously told ChronicleLive that Thauvin was an 'unbelievable talent', who even bagged a goal and a hat-trick of assists on his home debut, but the Geordie recalled how the new arrival 'must have felt isolated'.
"He didn't fit with the group because he wasn't happy and I don't think we played to his ability," Taylor said. "He didn't have the chance to produce what we know he is capable of.
"When he left Newcastle, like a lot of people, he went and produced. A lot of people weren't happy here and life behind the scenes is a big part of it. I remember he just got dumped in the dressing room. He had no support."
This was a world away from Newcastle's set-up now and the club have a player liaison officer in Glenn Patterson and an assistant player liaison officer in Jamie Morren to prevent new signings feeling like this again. The pair support all the players on a day-to-day basis at the training ground, but also help new signings find a house, set up direct debits and pay bills to help them settle in so that they can focus on their game.
"Player care is definitely going to get bigger in the future - not just at Newcastle United but at other clubs," Morren previously told the club's match day programme.
"It's about making sure they're cared for as humans - not just as players and names on backs of tops. That's the ethos here. We're a family and player care is a part of that."
READ NEXT
Newcastle coach surprised goalkeeper who 'took the money' did not punch him after brutal truth
Newcastle coach felt he was 'done' after emotional farewell as he reveals Unai Emery sack fear
UEFA asked 'million-dollar question' about rules stopping Newcastle using full spending power
Newcastle in line for huge eight-figure kit sponsorship deal to increase transfer spending power
Keylor Navas penalty twist revealed as he fails to get in yet another Newcastle player's head
