Matt Doherty has revealed that Newcastle United right-back Kieran Trippier played a decisive role in him joining Atletico Madrid on transfer deadline day.
The Republic of Ireland international is still awaiting his debut for Atletico and has started each of their last three games on the bench. Doherty mutually terminated his contract at Tottenham Hotspur to facilitate a move to the Spanish capital.
Trippier also left Tottenham for Atletico in 2019 and helped guide the Mattress Makers to their 11th Spanish La Liga title in 2021.
Doherty has opened up on how his conversations with Trippier inspired him to team up with Diego Simeone at the Metropolitano Stadium.
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“Everything happened very fast," Doherty explained to Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo. "Once I received notification that this was possible, it was extremely difficult to turn down the opportunity to come and play for this club.
"Just from what I've heard from people like Kieran Trippier. I am very excited. With the way in which he said that Simeone trains and the players play, I realized that I would really have fun here."
Trippier joined Newcastle from Atletico in the winter of 2021, and has been an influential figure behind their recent success under Eddie Howe.
The England international says he offered Doherty a few words of advice and has acted as a friend to lean on as the 31-year-old embarks on his adventure abroad.
"I talked to him. About how much he will enjoy the defence and the whole city and stuff, to give him an idea and help him out," Trippier added.
"It's important that you have someone to lean on, it's not easy to go abroad and get out of your comfort zone, but it was an incredible experience and something I'll remember forever."
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