Brighton manager Graham Potter has paid tribute to Newcastle United new signing Dan Burn while making an Adama Traore joke at his expense.
Newcastle signed the towering centre-back on transfer deadline day for £13 million, as Burn returns to his boyhood club signing a two-and-a-half-year deal.
The 29-year-old, who was born in Blyth, stated that he would have not left the side for any other team, but could not turn down the opportunity to return to Newcastle.
Burn is having his best season as a professional, with some arguing that he should be considered for an England call-up.
Defenders at 6 foot 7 who are better with their feet than with their heads are hard to come by, but Burn is a rare breed - which left Eddie Howe desperate to bring him to the club.
And former manager Potter has paid tribute to his former centre-back, whilst also joking about a player who had given him trouble over the years.
On what he said when he spoke to him last, Potter said: "It was to say thank you, to wish him well, to have a little bit of a joke with him. He has been fantastic with us, brilliant.
"A real part of what we try to do on and off the pitch. Took on the challenges with the utmost professionalism and effort.
"We were laughing that [Adama] Traore got a move to Barcelona and he was the one that was a bit of kryptonite to him, half-joking he was the one that got him the move there."
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Last year, Burn was up against the speedster Traore on several occasions - with Burn being used at left-back - and the Spaniard convincingly won that battle.
In a 3-3 draw in January 2021, Burn fouled the 26-year-old in the penalty area, conceding a spot-kick, scored an own goal, and was repeatedly beaten by him.
Then, in a 2-1 loss at Wolves in May, substitute Traore got the better of Burn again, and he caused the big defender multiple issues in December in a 1-0 loss at the Amex.
Seen as the quickest player in football, whilst Burn being 6 foot 7 - obviously a nightmare match-up for him.
But Burn will be used in his rightful position at Newcastle, at centre-back, with Matt Targett also being brought in to replace the outgoing Jamal Lewis.
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