Anthony Gordon had admitted it feels painful to leave Everton on bad terms. A boyhood Toffee, the Newcastle United man joined their academy ranks as an 11-year-old.
Gordon made his debut in December 2017 but did not become a first-team regular until the start of last season. His performances attracted interest from the Magpies despite Everton’s disarray on and off the pitch.
Their 72-year stretch without suffering relegation is under severe threat, with the club sitting 19th in the Premier League and two points from safety. Detested owner Farhad Moshiri has wasted over £500million since acquiring a majority stake in 2016 - providing the blueprint on how not to spend money following a takeover.
READ MORE: Newcastle United notebook: Hectic deadline day amid unexpected cash windfall after sell-on clause
After a 2-1 home defeat to Southampton a fortnight ago, supporters barricaded Gordon’s car, telling the 21-year-old “he is not fit” to wear the shirt. This turned out to be his final appearance for the Blues as an exit to Newcastle accelerated.
Speaking in his first interview as a Toon player, the winger opened up about his Everton regret but wished his former club well for the future. He told NUFC TV: “It was extremely difficult. It was a tough time. It's been a really tough week for me. I've always been Everton.
“It has been difficult but this is an opportunity that I couldn't miss out on. I didn’t mean to offend or disrespect anyone at Everton. I hope they know that and can reinvest the money now. I never imagined or wanted to go like that. As I said, I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity and they got a lot of money for me. I just hope they can reinvest in the squad.”
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