“With higher offer from Newcastle” – CEO reveal claims Newcastle lost £26M giant star player to Liverpool

The summer transfer window is a complex chess match, not just a simple shopping list.

For every deal that gets completed and officially announced, there are several more that unfold behind the scenes, revealing the intricate strategies and sometimes frustrating realities that top clubs navigate.

A recent comment from a Serie A CEO has shed light on one such move that didn’t come to pass for Newcastle United, offering a fascinating glimpse into the challenges the club faces in a fiercely competitive market.

It is no secret that strengthening the defensive unit was a priority for Newcastle during the recent window.

The successful acquisition of Malick Thiaw from AC Milan was a significant coup, finally landing a long-term target who had been on the club’s radar for well over a year.

The German international’s arrival was met with widespread approval, seen as a statement of intent to solidify the back line for years to come.

However, it now appears that Thiaw was not the only central defender on Newcastle’s shortlist. According to Parma CEO Federico Cherubini, the Magpies also submitted a substantial offer for another highly-touted prospect: 18-year-old Italian giant Giovanni Leoni.

Standing at an imposing 6ft 5″, Leoni represents the modern breed of defender, combining physical presence with the technical ability to play out from the back. His potential had clearly attracted attention from St James’ Park.

In a revealing interview, Cherubini stated that Newcastle’s offer for the teenager was actually “higher” than the one that was eventually accepted from Liverpool.

On the surface, this would seem to make a transfer to Tyneside the logical conclusion. Yet, as is so often the case in modern football, the final decision is not solely dictated by the highest bid.

The CEO went on to explain that the club’s “plans changed” when Liverpool expressed their firm interest. Two factors became decisive: the overall attractiveness of the proposal from Anfield, and most crucially, the player’s own desire to seize the opportunity to join the Merseyside club.

This is a recurring theme that Newcastle, despite their ambitious project and considerable financial power, still has to contend with.

The magnetic pull of a club like Liverpool, with its recent Champions League and Premier League triumphs, remains an incredibly powerful factor for many players.

It underscores a key challenge for the Magpies: convincing elite talent that their project is the right one, not just the most lucrative one.

It is easy to view this as a negative story, another instance of a so-called ‘big six’ club swooping in to claim a target. But perspective is important.

While Leoni is a tremendous prospect for the future, Newcastle had already secured their primary objective in Malick Thiaw—a proven, ready-now defender with international experience.

It is entirely possible that the interest in Leoni was always as a “project signing,” a player with the raw materials to develop into a star under the club’s guidance over the next few seasons.

The fact that Newcastle were prepared to make a significant financial commitment for such a player demonstrates the depth of their planning and their commitment to building for the long term.

They are not just looking to improve the first team today; they are meticulously scouting and competing for the stars of tomorrow.

While they may not win every battle for a signature, especially when a historic giant like Liverpool enters the fray, their presence in these conversations is itself a marker of how far they have come.

In the end, the defensive reinforcement Newcastle sought was achieved with the arrival of Thiaw. The pursuit of Leoni shows a club doing its due diligence, exploring every avenue to secure the best talent available.

Sometimes, the best deal you make is the one you walk away from, especially when the player’s heart is set elsewhere.

For Newcastle, the focus remains on integrating their new signings and continuing to build a squad capable of challenging on all fronts, one strategic move at a time.