Heartbreak for winger just five days before officially joining Newcastle United
The Spain under-19s international will officially join Newcastle United next week.
Newcastle United new signing Antonio Cordero’s 2024-25 season has ended in heartbreak.
Cordero was named in the Spain under-19s starting line-up for their European Championship final against Netherlands in Bucharest on Thursday night. However, it wasn’t the dream ending he was hoping for as a Raul Jimenez own goal resulted in a 1-0 defeat.
It marked the end of what has been a breakout campaign for the 18-year-old who, after scoring the goal that secured Malaga’s promotion back to La Liga 2 last year, established himself as a regular in the starting XI, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in the process.
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Porto all held talks with Cordero’s representatives but they were no match for Newcastle for whom he will officially sign next week on Tuesday, July 1.
Newcastle United line-up Antonio Cordero loan move
Cordero turned down a new contract at Malaga in favour of joining the Magpies on a free transfer. But he won’t go straight into Eddie Howe’s first team with the plan to loan him to a club in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Newcastle adopted a similar approach with Yankuba Minteh, who they signed from Danish side Odense Boldklub for £7million before quickly loaning him to Feyenoord for the 2023-24 campaign. Howe had planned to integrate Minteh into the first-team squad last summer but was instead sold to Brighton & Hove Albion for £33million to help the club comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Dutch giants Ajax are understood to be leading the chase for Cordero.
Antonio Cordero comments on Newcastle United move
Commenting on his move to Newcastle, Cordero said: “It’s truly an honour to be here, truly a pleasure. I am a person who likes to aspire high and likes complicated and tough journeys, and why not come to one of the best places in the world to do it? I’m aware that it’s a big step and that’s one of the reasons I’m here. I am happy to do it and have a great desire to get going already.
“I’m very aware [of Newcastle] and I’ve been following for a long time. I like what the coach and the staff are doing, the style of play of the team - that’s why I have such a great desire to get going straight away and to get to know everyone.
“It’s a place that I’ve been following for many years, both the club and the city. I had a great desire to come and I’m very, very happy to be here. I was super motivated and excited seeing the team qualify in the last match and for that reason, I came with even more desire to be here.
“I’m a very ambitious person and I don’t have specific numbers or things I want to specify. I just want to go for all of them and try to achieve the maximum. I’ve got some vacations here and there but for me, honestly, I’d rather it be done quickly so I can get going already.”