‘I preferred him to stay’ - Ajax youngster issues regret at £20m Newcastle United transfer after media backlash
Newcastle United signed Dutch talent Sean Steur from Ajax for £20million earlier this month.
Ajax youngster Jorthy Mokio has admitted he wishes Sean Steur did not leave to join Newcastle United.
Both players broke into the club’s first-team setup last season, with Toon chiefs stumping up £20million to sign the highly rated Steur. However, the 18-year-old has faced an intense backlash in his native country.
Sections of the Dutch media have accused Steur of only joining Newcastle for financial reasons. Veteran journalist Henk Spaan wrote a column for Het Parool attacking Steur’s father, Johan - a former professional footballer - for his attitude at the training ground.
‘I preferred him to stay’ - Jorthy Mokio
Ultimately, the view in the Netherlands matters little as Steur begins a new adventure at Premier League level. But speaking to De Telegraaf, “Of course, I would have preferred him to stay. But ultimately, everyone chooses their own path.
“That’s true (regarding competition for places), but I still would have liked to keep him around. He was definitely one of the guys I hung out with the most. I don’t know exactly what was going on with Sean, either. That’s private. Above all, I wish him the very best.”
‘It doesn’t bother us’ - Sean Steur family
Steur’s brother, Roy, who plays as a goalkeeper, hit out at the criticism earlier this month. He said: “It doesn’t really bother us that much. We know what our father is like: he always protects us and is always there for us. He is always there for us.
“People who know my father also know that what those people are saying is pure bull. It is being said that my father is Sean’s agent: that is already incorrect. People are already coming up with information that isn’t true. We attach little value to everything that is said.”