Mehrdad Ghodoussi aims cheeky jibe at Newcastle United director over Saudi Arabia trip

Newcastle United co-owners Mehrdad Ghodoussi and Jamie Reuben have again been in each other’s sights on social media - with the club’s trip to Saudi Arabia the latest topic of conversation.

Ghodoussi with wife and fellow PCP Capital Partners director Amanda Staveley both flew over to the kingdom, home of majority shareholders, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, with the squad and a considerable support team. The United party flew over on privately chartered Saudia flight, after the airline signed an agreement to sponsor the trip.

And while Ghodoussi and Staveley have been with the group, who are stationed at Riyadh’s premier hotel, the Four Seasons, Reuben has not.

And this sparked Ghodoussi to poke fun at his close friend on Twitter.

Posting a photo of training, the Iranian-born director said: “We missed you at training, as per usual @jamiereuben.”

This is the second time Ghodoussi and Staveley have travelled with the team to the kingdom, having done so earlier this year - a trip that coincided with the club’s major upturn in fortunes, and eventual drive away from relegation trouble last season.

Ghodoussi and Reuben are known for their good-humoured exchanges on social media - and as recently as three days ago the latter posted an image of the pair enjoying drinks together.

Reuben is understood to have flown into Saudi to join his fellow directors and the team on Tuesday, as has Dan Burn, who missed the original flight due to illness.