Report: Some Newcastle players aren't happy with 25-year-old teammate, they've complained to coaching staff

By Shamanth Jayaram

According to The Athletic, some Newcastle United players have occasionally complained to the coaching staff about Allan Saint-Maximin’s antics.

The 25-year-old Frenchman is arguably the Magpies’ best player. When he gets on the ball, he makes everyone in the stadium stand up, and that’s a trait not many footballers have.

Saint-Maximin, who joined Newcastle from Nice for £16.5 million in August 2019 (Sky Sports), has played 91 times for the Toon in all competitions. His record, however, hasn’t been a great one.

In those 91 appearances, Saint-Maximin has scored just 12 goals, which is simply not enough. The Frenchman, in an interview recently, seemed to blame his teammates for that.

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Newcastle teammates have complained to coaches about Saint-Maximin

Saint-Maximin told So Foot a few days ago that he’d have 15 assists to his name if Newcastle went and signed an elite finisher. That has apparently not gone down well at St James’ Park, and the report claims that Eddie Howe was far from impressed.

That’s not the only thing that has irked some of his teammates. Saint-Maximin not doing his defensive duties has also reportedly annoyed some Newcastle players, who have even had a word with Howe and the coaching staff about his antics.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh said: “Well, without naming names, I am aware of some of his teammates occasionally complaining about his antics.

“I’ve even witnessed players making remarks to the coaching staff by the side of the pitch, albeit those were isolated incidents.”

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TBR View:

Saint-Maximin is undoubtedly one of Newcastle’s most important players. His interview in France was an unwanted one earlier this month, but it seems like his words were taken out of context a bit as well.

His teammates complaining about him is not a good look, but it’s natural for an attacker as talented as him to forget his defensive duties from time to time.

Howe will likely have a word with Saint-Maximin, but this should not be viewed as a big problem at all.

The Frenchman will still remain a hugely important player for the Magpies, especially if they bring in a few top-quality players in their first-ever summer transfer window under their new owners.

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