'Extraordinary' - Newcastle United favourite delivers exciting transfer verdict after deadline day deal agreed
Belgium international Matias Fernandez-Pardo joined Newcastle United from Ligue 1 club Lille earlier this week.
Newcastle United cult hero Philippe Albert has expressed his delight over seeing Belgium international Matías Fernández-Pardo follow in his footsteps by securing a move to St James Park.
The versatile forward was one of United’s main targets for the summer transfer window and they were forced to show a patient approach as they finally secured a deal for the Lille star just 48 hours before the window drew to a close earlier this week. That comes just over 32 years after Albert became the first Belgian international to join the Magpies when he joined Kevin Keegan’s Entertainers just months after impressing at the World Cup in the United States during the summer of 1994.
Fernandez-Pardo could make his United debut in Saturday’s home clash with Bournemouth when he will become only the second Belgian to represent the club in the Premier League. Albert believes his compatriot will ‘discover an extraordinary club’ now he joined Matthias Jaissle’s squad and described his own time on Tyneside as ‘the most beautiful of his life’.
Speaking to Belgian outlet Le Soir, the former Magpies defender said: “It is a personal pleasure to see a Belgian in Newcastle. He will discover an experience that he had never had the opportunity to live and that he will certainly not live again afterwards. I’m happy for him. He’s going to discover an extraordinary club, with fantastic fans who are arguably the best in the world. These fans encourage you all the time and if they see that you are giving yourself to the field, they will continue to support you, even if there are bad results.
“In Newcastle, I lived there five fantastic years, the most beautiful of my life. [Fernandez-Pardo] will have to deal with some form of pressure. But he has the weapons to meet the challenge. He arrives as a striker, a position where it is difficult to break away from the comparison with Alan Shearer. It will be up to him to adapt, work and perform in the game. If he is self-denial and given his style of play by taking the depth, I think it can match with the fans.”
Your next Newcastle United read: 'Delighted' - Newcastle United confirm new signing three days after transfer window closes