Kieran Trippier has hit back at claims he’s only joined Newcastle United for the cash.
The England right back swapped Atletico Madrid for Tyneside in a £12.5m transfer and a two-and-a half year contract worth the same, at £100k a week.
He has vowed to prove he’s made the move for sporting reasons not just the financials, and wants to help keep Eddie Howe’s side in the Premier League.
Trippier, who is the first current England international Newcastle have signed since Michael Owen in 2005, says he will push to keep his place in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the World Cup, despite joining a relegation battle.
Asked if he was only here for the money, Trippier said: “I fight for the shirt. People are entitled to their opinion. The most important thing was for my family to come back to England and especially the North. If people say it is for money they can have their opinion but I have my reasons.
“Is it a brave decision? I had the same question before I went to Madrid. People said it was a risk and I shouldn’t make that move.
“I took the risk of going to Spain, and I believed in myself. I am brave, I like to take chances and challenges. I am not afraid to come here and fight for the club to get us higher.
“I am still ambitious. I want to get in the England team and I feel I can still handle the pressure. I am in good shape.”
Newcastle conceded a Premier League record 80 goals in the calendar year 2021, and lost 21 games, but Trippier hopes that run improves rather than damage his England place.
“Me and Gareth will be in contact soon. I am not giving up on England. I am challenging myself. I play for Newcastle. I have to play well here. I am up against some good right backs, Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker.
“I love challenges. This is a test but I will never give up on my hopes of playing for England.”
He says he is a better player now than when he quit Spurs for Spain saying coach Diego Simeone “worked me relentlessly and taught me so much.”
Eddie Howe is chasing more signings and Newcastle have upped their bid for Sven Botman the Liile defender. Callum Wilson is likely to be out for two month and Anthony Martial is a loan option.
Howe has issued a strong warning against Newcastle dishing out relegation clauses to their January signings.
Howe, though, wants stars to have “no way out” and is demanding full commitment and no excuses from new signings.
Asked about using relegation clauses to reassure new players, Howe said: “We have half a season left and I want players who want to come and are absolutely committed to turning the situation around.
“Offering relegation clauses is a sure fire way to potentially bring players in who don’t have the correct motivation.
“So we take each situation on an individual basis. I would never state clearly whether we are or we are not. Each individual situation is different.
“But I want players who are absolutely committed and have no way out, and think I have got to make this work. I think that is the only way we will get success.”
