Hugo Ekitike makes ‘lucky’ claim after Newcastle United transfer snub

Hugo Ekitike reflected on his time at Paris Saint-Germain, describing himself as “lucky” to have joined the French giants despite missing the opportunity for more game time at Newcastle United. The young striker turned down the chance to move to Tyneside in both the mid-season and summer transfer windows of 2022, opting instead for a high-profile switch to PSG.

Newcastle had aggressively pursued the former Stade de Reims forward, even before breaking their transfer record to sign Alexander Isak. However, Ekitike chose the allure of playing for one of Europe’s elite clubs over a move to the Premier League. Eddie Howe, despite missing out on the signing, expressed no resentment toward the decision, stating that he genuinely wished the player success in his career.

Ekitike’s stint at PSG, however, did not unfold as he might have hoped. Limited opportunities saw him net just four goals, and he found himself omitted from the club’s Champions League squad last season.

Watching from the stands as PSG took on Newcastle at the Parc des Princes, he experienced firsthand the challenges of securing a place in a star-studded squad. With limited game time and no clear path into the first team, he ultimately sought a fresh start at Eintracht Frankfurt to revive his career.

Despite struggling to establish himself at PSG, Ekitike remains adamant that he has no regrets about his decision. He values the experience of training alongside some of football’s greatest players, including Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar.

That exposure, he believes, provided invaluable lessons that shaped his development. While he initially prioritized playing time, he now recognizes the unique opportunity he had to observe and learn from some of the world’s best.

Reflecting on his journey, he acknowledged how his perspective has shifted over time. In conversations with TNT Sports, he admitted that while his desire to play was paramount at the time, he has since realized the significance of the experience he gained at PSG.

Spending extensive time at home and contemplating his career path has given him a newfound appreciation for what he witnessed and absorbed during his tenure in Paris.

Ekitike considers himself a student of the game, driven by a relentless thirst for knowledge. His time at PSG, whether up close in training or from a distance during matches, allowed him to observe elite-level football at its highest standard. Watching world-class players operate daily reinforced his understanding of the game and provided insights that he might not have gained elsewhere.

Now at Eintracht Frankfurt, he aims to translate those lessons into performances on the pitch, proving that while his time at PSG may not have been filled with minutes, it was far from wasted. The challenge ahead lies in applying what he learned to cement his place in Germany and rekindle the trajectory that once made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.