Patrick Vieira believes Allan Saint-Maximin made a 'really good decision' to join Newcastle United and believes the attacker is far more mature than the talent he once managed.
The Crystal Palace boss worked with the Magpies' number 10 during their time at Nice, but the pair did not see eye to eye and it was the Arsenal legend who sanctioned his St James' Park switch in the summer of 2019.
Vieira questioned Saint-Maximin's application, insisting the future Newcastle fans' favourite would not make the sacrifices necessary to make the most of his talent.
The Eagles manager told reporters in 2019: “Allan’s problem is that sadly he thinks that talent is enough to go to the highest level.
"And he needs to understand that he needs to work, to make sacrifices. He needs to suffer. And sadly, he has not yet understood that.”
However, Saint-Maximin has since gone on to establish himself as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League, and quickly became a key figure for former head coach Steve Bruce.
The attacker will come head to head with his former boss at Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon, and Vieira was asked for his verdict on how the attacker has adapted to English football.
Reflecting on Saint-Maximin's decision to sign for Newcastle, Vieira said: "I think he made a really good decision leaving Nice because that took him out of his comfortable zone.
"I think he needed to challenge his talent and going abroad going to Newcastle I think helped him to develop himself as a player and as a man as well and he is a different player today than he was at Nice.
"He's a talented talented player. I think he's got a lot of attributes to his game: he's got the pace; he is really good in the one vs one; he can run in behind; he can create chances by himself.
"You can see it now that he's got more maturity on his game, he is a really exciting player."
Saint-Maximin was one of several first-team players to post a tribute to Bruce following the head coach's exit by 'mutual consent' earlier this week.
The forward has endeared himself to fans through his interactions on social media and his work with the West End Foodbank, and Vieira was questioned whether this latest post was a sign of his growing maturity.
The Palace manager answered: "No, but I think it's just the person that he is. I think he is a people person.
"He is really close to his managers in general and the way that he is in the field versus the way that he is off the field as well. He is quite really a lovely person."
