Miguel Almiron looks set to leave Newcastle United to rejoin his former club Atlanta United. The Paraguay international will make his return to Major League Soccer after six years at St. James’ Park, according to The Guardian, in a deal believed to be in the region of £10 million.
The Magpies continue to be hamstrung by profit and sustainability rules in their ambitions to bring players in and must sell before they can buy. The impending sale of their number 24 this month could loosen the shackles ever so slightly on their transfer ambitions.
Deserved Acclaim for a Popular Character
At the time of his arrival back in January 2019, Almiron became Newcastle’s club record signing for a fee thought to be around £21 million.
The 30-year-old is one of a few players to have experienced the change in fortunes at Newcastle, either side of the Public Investment Fund takeover. In recent seasons, his role in the squad has changed, but Eddie Howe has regularly spoken of his importance to his squad and in the dressing room.
His cameo appearance against Southampton, which could prove to be his last for Newcastle, was a snapshot of his spell on Tyneside. Despite the game seemingly being won, he tore around the pitch as if his life depended on it, an attribute never once doubted throughout his tenure. He even came close to signing off in style, as he had a shot well saved deep in stoppage time.
As the Newcastle players and staff showed their appreciation to the jubilant travelling support, Eddie Howe made sure Almiron had his moment. The Newcastle boss playfully pushed the man affectionately dubbed ‘Miggy’ to the front of the group to receive the rapturous reception. He responded by waving in his trademark understated way to the away contingent who had made the trip to St. Mary’s.
Creating Timeless Moments in Black & White
Almiron has been at the heart of many ups and downs during his time in the North East and has provided the Newcastle faithful with memories to last a lifetime. The scenes at St. James Park that greeted his opening goal against Paris Saint Germain in the infamous 4-1 Champions League victory last season has gone down in the club’s folklore.
Almiron never proved to be a prolific goal scorer during his time at Newcastle, managing 30 goals in his 222 appearances for the club. However, he bucked that trend during a memorable purple patch in 2022, a period that was influential in securing Champions League qualification for Newcastle. Following a run that saw him score six goals in six matches, he won the player of the month award for October. He also won the goal of the month award at the same time for an outrageous volley at Craven Cottage following a stunning Bruno Guimarães assist.
While his left foot dominance was a regular source of frustration for the Newcastle fans, his popularity never wavered for long.
Return to Home Comforts
Almiron undoubtedly heads back to Southeastern USA, having established himself as a fan favourite on Tyneside. But the timing of his exit feels just about right, both for the club and for Almiron himself. With Newcastle battling PSR off the pitch, as well as their Premier League rivals on it, tailoring their squad in order to achieve silverware and European football has become the number one priority.
Having become accustomed to playing in one iconic arena, Almiron will return to another, the uniquely structured Mercedes-Benz Stadium. When the Paraguayan first left the state of Georgia behind, he actually left an MLS champion, having won the 2018 edition with Atlanta United. He will endeavour to hit the ground running upon his return to MLS and thrive at the home that he first made his name.