Former Aston Villa forward, Gabriel Agbonlahor, has said Kieran Trippier joined Newcastle United because of money.
The Magpies have signed the English right-back from Atletico Madrid for £12million transfer fee.
Newcastle disclosed the signing of the 31-year-old on Friday, January 7.
Trippier emerges the first signing since Newcastle was bought by a consortium led by the Saudi Arabian government’s sovereign wealth fund.
The consortium purchased the club for £300million in October, 2021.
Following the purchase, Newcastle now becomes the richest club in the English Premier League.
The former Tottenham star returned to Premier League to break the record of the highest ever paid player at St James’ Park.
That said, Agbonlahor held that no other reason would have made a player like Trippier to swap LaLiga titleholders and Champions League football for a relegation-threatened side like Newcastle if not for money.
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However, the 35-year-old Agbonlahor added that if he were to be in Trippier’s shoes, he would have also done the same.
Agbonlahor told talkSPORT: “He’ s going to top up that retirement fund.”
“Of course he is, he’s not going to be there at his peak when Newcastle will be challenging for European places, he’s gone there for the money.”
Newcastle who sit in the penultimate spot on the English table has amassed 11 points in 19 matches so far.
