Allan Saint-Maximin’s ‘honest’ response to Newcastle United summer exit talk - and AC Milan

Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin has confirmed he received interest from other clubs during the January transfer window.

The Frenchman enjoyed a strong start to the 2022-23 campaign after he followed up a special display against Man City with a stunning late equaliser at Wolves a week later.

However, that trip to Molineux in August proved to be the 25-year-old last Premier League start, prior to Saturday’s 1-1 draw versus West Ham United.

A hamstring injury, plus the success of United in his absence, means Saint-Maximin has faced a battle to win his place back in Eddie Howe’s starting XI.

Allan Saint-Maximin addresses exit talk

Given his situation, Saint-Maximin wasn’t surprised to hear of interest from elsewhere. AC Milan was one of those clubs, though the winger did not mention the Serie A giants directly.

“I will be honest because I’m not going to lie, when you are in that situation [not starting matches], for sure, a lot of teams can see that,” said the former Nice winger. “A lot of teams can think it’s the right opportunity to come and to buy the player.”

Saint-Maximin divided opinions following his display against the Hammers. Some supporters have called for him to return to his bench role for the trip to Bournemouth this weekend - but that’s not a role the player is willing to accept.

A summer transfer warning

And with that, Saint-Maximin hinted he may be forced to find a new club this summer if he were to remain out of the starting line-up

“I’m very proud to be there and for sure the most important thing for me is to play,” he added. “I will always try to be in a position where I play every game because any player doesn’t like and I don’t play football to be on the bench.

“Sometimes you need to understand the situation and when I was in the team the team didn’t lose any games and I did my job and when I wasn’t there the team kept going to play well. You need to understand that.

“For sure, if we lose two games and I stay on the bench, that will be different, I would never accept that situation.”

Regardless of his situation, Saint-Maximin remains committed to Newcastle until the end of the season, at least.

“When the team did so well and especially when you love the players you cannot be like, okay when you play you are very nice guys and when you start to not play you just try to [make things difficult], I’m not like that,” he said.

“I believe a lot in God and that’s why even when I didn’t play, I pray for the team because finally we are together and if we manage to reach the Champions League we’re going to do it together and that’s the most important thing for all of us.”