Newcastle winger Charles N’Zogbia has confirmed that he
is set to join Wigan as part of an exchange deal.
N’Zogbia said this week that he would never play for Newcastle
again while Joe Kinnear was in charge of the club, and reports
emerged suggesting he would head to The JJB Stadium with Ryan
Taylor heading in the other direction.
And the 22-year-old, who moved to St James’ Park in 2004,
appears to have verified the rumours.
Asked if he would definitely leave Newcastle, he told L’Equipe:
“There are still things to be finalised, but it will be sorted out
on Saturday when my agent arrives in England.
“I’m relieved.
“I really wanted to move clubs, but the problem is that
Newcastle wanted a lot of money.
“Fortunately for me, the club have found an agreement with
Wigan, who wanted one of their players. Good news.”
N’Zogbia had been linked with high-profile sides like Arsenal,
Tottenham, Aston Villa and Lyon, but he believes Wigan will still
be a step up for his career.
He said: “It is a club that has targets and is much more
ambitious than Newcastle.
“I know I was linked with other teams, but if they had really
wanted me, they would have managed to make me leave.”
N’Zogbia was enraged by a remark from Kinnear following the
midweek defeat to Manchester City, but he insists he bears no
grudges.
“In his press conference, he called me not ‘N’Zogbia’ but
‘insomnia’,” he said.
“It showed a lack of respect, but that's okay. I don't have
anything against him.
“I do not forget that Newcastle is the club that gave me my
chance in professional football.
“Today, I leave without any regrets.”
Reports suggest both N'Zogbia and Taylor are now in talks
over the deals, with Wigan said to have agreed to pay £6 million
for N'Zogbia.
