Report: Newcastle looking to land Pablo Longoria as new director of football

Add as preferred source on Google

Spanish outlet El Desmarque have claimed that Newcastle United are looking to bring Spaniard Pablo Longoria back to St. James’ Park to become the club’s new director of football – 12 years after he left the club.

Longoria first worked at Newcastle as a scout for about four months during the 2007-08 season – joining the club during Sam Allardyce’s reign before being leaving after Kevin Keegan took over.

The 33-year-old moved to Spanish side Huelva as head of scouting in 2009 before three years with Atalanta as a normal scout. His big break came when he was made head of Sassuolo’s scouting team and then in 2015, he was made Juventus’ chief scout.

After almost three years with the Italian champions, Longoria joined Valencia in February 2018 and masterminded the Spanish side’s qualification for the 2019-20 Champions League. With Lee Charnley set to leave, Longoria could now be brought in.

TBR’s view – Longoria would be a stunning appointment

Having worked at some big clubs over the past decade, Longoria’s contacts will be far-ranging and his appointment will see Newcastle’s potential new owners put all the tools in place to bring the right players to the club this summer.

Currently out of work after leaving Valencia in September, it seems clear that – although a man in demand with AC Milan also keen – a chance to spend Newcastle’s influx of cash from the Saudi Arabia PIF will be hard to turn down.

Longoria could be the secret weapon behind Newcastle’s growth over the next few seasons.