Newcastle United midfielder Gael Bigirimana is ready to fight for his place in Alan Pardew’s first-team after ruling out a potential loan move away from St James’ Park, The Shields Gazette understands.
Bigirimana, 19, joined Newcastle from Coventry City on a five-year deal for a fee rumoured to be between £500,000 and £1,000,000 in July 2012.
The England Under-20 international, who scored one goal in 25 appearances in all competitions for the Magpies last term, has made just one appearance for the club from Tyneside this season, starting and playing all 90 minutes in the 2-0 away win over League Two side Morecambe F.C. in Round 2 of the Capital One Cup.
Recent reports have suggested a number of English clubs are keen to sign Bigirimana on loan, but the Burundi-born midfielder has revealed he is going nowhere.
“People can say it’s best for me to go on loan, but I’m not going anywhere,” Bigirimana told the Gazette.
“I’m going to stay here. I’m going to be patient, and I’m going to work my socks off.
“I showed last year that I didn’t look out of place in the big games. That’s not being big-headed. That’s how I feel I did.
“So I’m not going on loan. My target this season is to fight. You never know how the season can change.
“Patience is the key. In football, you’ve got to be patient. You’ve got to stay fit and keep working in training.”
At the moment, Cheik Tioté, Moussa Sissoko, Vurnon Anita and Yohan Cabaye are ahead of Bigirimana in the pecking order at St James’ Park, but any dip in form and/or injuries can change that in the blink of an eye.
Real Madrid were keen on Mario Gomez
ACF Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez has claimed that Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti wanted to bring him to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu this summer, according to Sky Sports.
Gomez, 28, was deemed ‘surplus to requirements’ by new Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola after failing to regain his first-team place from Mario Mandžukić following his return from injury last season.
The Germany international was subsequently sold to the Viola, for a fee in the region of €20 million, despite interest from Real Madrid.
Ancelotti was supposedly eyeing the 28-year-old as a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain, who left Madrid for Napoli earlier this summer, but nothing materialised.
In his four years at the Allianz Arena, Gomez bagged 113 goals in 174 competitive appearances for the reigning European champions.
“It’s true that Carlo Ancelotti wanted to sign me for Madrid,” Gomez told Kicker.
“I was honoured by their interest, because my entire family consists of Real Madrid fans.
“However, after holding talks with Fiorentina about their plans for the future, I knew joining Fiorentina was the right choice for me.”
Gomez has tallied two goals and one assist in his first two Serie A appearances for Fiorentina (2-0-0).
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