Mali international 'turned down' chance to join Newcastle United
The full-back claims he was offered a big financial package to swap France for St James’s Park this summer – but turned down the offer in order to move from Lille to Lyon.
In an interview with OL-Mercato, Kone said: “OL made an approach, and I did not think for a single second. I said to myself, ‘I’ll go there.’ The project pleased me. I followed the French Championship when I was in Mali, and Lyon is a team that has always played football.
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Hide Ad“If I had looked at the financial side, I would have gone to Newcastle, but I preferred to look at the sporting aspect.”
United went on to sign both Jetro Willems and Emil Krafth before the closure of the summer window – with Willems making his full Magpies debut on Saturday.