“We turned down Newcastle offer” – CEO explain club sold defender to Liverpool over higher Newcastle bid

In the often unpredictable whirlwind of the summer transfer window, the final moves can reveal as much about a player’s ambition as they do about a club’s strategy.

While the headline-grabbing deal saw Alexander Isak finally secure his protracted move to Liverpool from Newcastle United, a quieter, yet perhaps more telling, negotiation was unfolding behind the scenes for a highly-touted young defender.

This secondary saga involved Giovanni Leoni, an 18-year-old centre-back from Italian side Parma. In a recent interview, Parma’s CEO, Federico Cherubini, pulled back the curtain on the transfer process, revealing a fascinating detail that speaks volumes about the current landscape of football.

According to Cherubini, Newcastle United actually presented a more financially advantageous offer for the teenager.

On the surface, this would seem to make a transfer to St. James’ Park the logical conclusion. Yet, the player ended up at Anfield, a move that was finalized back on August 15th.

So why would a club accept a lower bid? The answer lies in a combination of respectful negotiation and the undeniable pull of a player’s personal dream.

Cherubini was very clear about the club’s initial intentions, stating they had always hoped to keep the promising defender and had even turned down Newcastle’s superior offer to honor that plan.

The situation only changed when Liverpool entered the picture. Their proposal, while reportedly less lucrative from a pure fee standpoint, was still deemed “very attractive” by the Serie A club.

Crucially, the player’s own desires became the deciding factor. Leoni himself made it clear that the opportunity to join a club of Liverpool’s stature and history was one he was “very happy to take advantage of.”

Faced with a compelling offer from a European giant and a young talent eager to make the jump, Parma chose not to stand in his way.

This kind of pragmatism, mixed with a degree of pride, is common for clubs acting as incubators for future stars.

Cherubini expressed a sense of disappointment at losing such a promising talent, but also took pride in Parma’s role in his development, having signed him from Sampdoria after only a handful of Serie B appearances.

For Newcastle, this episode is a subtle reminder that while the financial power of the Premier League is immense, it is not always the ultimate deciding factor.

The Magpies are building an exciting project under Eddie Howe, but the magnetic appeal of a club like Liverpool, with its recent Champions League and Premier League triumphs, remains incredibly powerful for many players.

It underscores the challenge of not just identifying talent, but also convincing them that your project is the right one for their future.

As for Leoni, he finds himself at the beginning of his journey with Liverpool, yet to make his debut but undoubtedly learning from some of the best.

His presence on the bench against his former suitors, Newcastle, was a small but symbolic moment. Meanwhile, the Magpies must move forward, knowing that in the modern market, a higher bid does not always guarantee you the player.