Eibar's sporting director Fran Garagarza has taken aim at Newcastle's hierarchy, claiming he got one over the Magpies during negotiations that led to Yoshinori Muto joining the Spanish club.
The Japanese international joined the La Liga outfit on a season-long loan deal after two disappointing seasons on Tyneside.
After joining from Mainz on a £9.5million deal in the summer of 2018, he made just 10 starts in his two seasons at St James' Park, scoring just twice.
Newcastle placed Muto up for sale and, in an ideal world, would have secured a permanent departure for the 28-year-old.
Instead, he joined Los Armeros on loan and Garagarza couldn't resist from letting the assembled Spanish media know they got the better of talks with United during the transfer negotiations.
“Newcastle told us, either you reach some figures or Muto does not leave," Garagarza told AS.
"We told them that it was impossible. A week later the Japanese forward arrived on loan to Eibar for the figures that we initially told them.”
Newcastle hope Muto impresses in Northern Spain so that he can attract some suitors for a permanent deal next summer when he enters the final year of his current deal at St James' Park.
He has so far made three appearances for Eibar without finding the back of the net.
