Salomon Rondon has admitted he would have signed permanently for Newcastle this summer had Rafa Benitez penned a new deal to remain as Magpies manager.
Instead, the Spaniard joined Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang after failing to agree a new deal with Newcastle chairman Mike Ashley.
Rondon opted to follow Benitez to Dalian, sealing a £16.5million move from West Bromwich Albion earlier this month.
While the Venezuelan is now excited to experience a new culture with wife Valeria and son Rodrigo, he has expressed some regret over the way his spell in the North East came to an end.
'It was a beautiful year for me last season. I loved it because the supporters were behind me all the time,' Rondon told the Sun.
'Was I disappointed to leave? Yes, because I was waiting for something. I was waiting for Rafa.
'So when Rafa said goodbye, I felt I would have to say goodbye as well. I understood in that moment I would not sign for Newcastle.'
In an interview with Sportsmail, Ashley claimed Benitez's move was 'all about the money.'
However, Rondon has criticised the 54-year-old's thrifty approach towards running the St James' Park club, implying that Ashley did not bid to sign him because he is too old to have a high sell-on value.
'It looks like the owner's rule is that, "Because he's 29, when I sell I don't get more money from what I've invested in him".'
The striker is now reportedly earning £8m a year in Asia but remains open to a Premier League return before the end of his career.
He provided 12 goals and seven assists in 32 games at Newcastle and went on to score on debut in Dalian's 3-3 draw with Tianjin Teda.
Gerarda
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I don't blame Rondon any more than Rafa for going out to China. It's a new challenge, different culture and experience and neither are planning on retiring out there. I don't know if China will one day usurp the MLS or whatever, but Rondon clearly has respect for Rafa and I suppose he thinks Rafa can still help him improve as a player. Time will tell, but it seems at least his motives are different from Carlos Tevez's.
yummybe
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Rondon would not have signed for Newcastle if Rafa had stayed because because Ashley doesn't sign players over 12 years old as they have no sell on value. He was never joining full time.