‘People don’t realise’ - Kieran Trippier’s stunning Newcastle United revelation

Newcastle United star Kieran Trippier has confessed that he took a pay cut to join the club from Atletico Madrid last year.

The full-back's move to the North East got the footballing world talking in January 2022 when he swapped the Spanish giants for a relegation battle with Newcastle sitting 19th in the Premier League at the time.

Trippier became Eddie Howe's first signing as Newcastle boss and with the club facing the real possibility of Championship football once again, many were quick to point to new big-money owners as the reason for the defender's move.

The Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, RB Sports & Media and PCP Capital Partners had taken over Newcastle United from Mike Ashley three months earlier, making the side the richest in the league.

From his first days, Trippier faced questions over his reasons for joining the club with some questioning if he had come simply for a pay increase.

The star rebuffed those ideas in his very first press conference and has now opened up on the reality behind his move.

Speaking to Jake Humphrey on The High Performance Podcast, Trippier admitted that he actually took a pay cut to join the Magpies.

He said: "I have no regrets in every decision I make. This was the perfect decision for me.

"There were loads of comments when I first signed saying I came for money or whatever I may be. What people don't realise, I came here on less money than when I was at Atletico Madrid. I could've signed a new three-year contract at Madrid.

"I had to come back to England for my family, my children. We were going through a difficult moment. I had good chats with the manager and just thought, why not?

"I knew they were 19th in the league, I have no regrets even though I could've been playing in the Championship. I had no relegation clause. I took less money. I took a gamble and, again, I have no regrets."

In the tell-all chat, Trippier admitted that Eddie Howe had been to watch Madrid train in Spain when without a job and the two had a friendly conversation at the time.

The former Burnley colleagues spoke in Spain and Trippier admitted offering his services should Howe walk into employment in the UK anytime in the near future.