Villarreal coach Unai Emery has clarified that he will not be leaving at the Spanish club to join Newcastle United.
Emery, who led Villarreal to last season’s Europa League title, had emerged as the favorite to be named as the new coach at the club which was recently the subject of a big money Saudi Arabian led takeover.
Following his side’s Champions League win over Yong Boys on Tuesday, he even commented that he had “not said no” to Newcastle, even though he explained that he had not received a formal offer from the English club. Whether or not he did speak to representatives of Newcastle now appears irrelevant after he published a letter affirming his loyalty to Villarreal, who he joined in July 2020.
“For all the noise there was yesterday in another country, within the club there has been transparency and loyalty with the Roig family (Villarreal’s owners), that for me is most important.” “Honestly, I am grateful for the interest shown by a great club, but am also even more grateful to stay here, and I have communicated to (Villarreal President) Fernando Roig my decision to want to continue as part of this project and for the commitment and respect that I have received from the club and my players, it is mutual and reciprocated.”
“I also want to show gratitude for the love and support that has always been shown to me. This Sunday, we have a very important game and I hope that, together, we can achieve victory. We will see you in the Estadio Ceramica,” wrote Emery.
Club president Roig had been asked about Emery’s future on Tuesday and showed his confidence the coach would remain at the club. “I’m sure that his mind is not drifting elsewhere. I know Unai has a contract with us and contracts are there to be fulfilled. We hope that we will be able to see that contract through until the end,” he commented. Meanwhile Newcastle will continue their search for a man to try and lead them out of the bottom three of the Premier League with former Bournemouth coach Eddie Howe emerging as a new candidate.
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