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I went on strike at Newcastle United to try and force Arsenal transfer – I know I was wrong
Дата публикации: 25-07-2026 05:00:00
Newcastle United face several big decisions in the transfer market this summer, and could learn a lot from past mistakes
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Newcastle United face several big decisions in the transfer market this summer, and could learn a lot from past mistakes
Yohan Cabaye (right) wanted to join Arsenal in summer 2013(Image: Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Former Newcastle United midfielder Yohan Cabaye once voiced his regret at going on strike in an attempt to force a move to Arsenal.
In the summer of 2013, the Gunners tried to prise France international Cabaye away from St James’ Park with a £10 million bid. Their offer came on the eve of Newcastle’s opening Premier League game of the season against Manchester City and successfully turned Cabaye’s head.
He refused to play against City, forcing then-Magpies boss Alan Pardew to leave him out of the matchday squad. The club hierarchy insisted he wasn’t for sale and Cabaye ultimately failed to secure his move to north London.
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But while he was frustrated at the club’s stance initially, the Frenchman soon returned to the fold and gave it his all for the club, even admitting years later that he regretted going on strike. His words are especially apt given Arsenal’s recent pursuit of Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, who is reported to have agreed personal terms with the English champions but has not forced a move as of yet.
Cabaye told FourFourTwo: "The deal (when I signed for Newcastle) was ‘OK, you come and we’ll see how you adapt. The English market can be quick, and if there’s something, we’ll sit and have a chat’.
"So, OK, that’s fine. It was the first time I was leaving a club, moving from Lille to Newcastle, so I didn’t know about transfers. The fact is, the first season was really good, and after that there was Euro 2012, of course, which went well for me.
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"Then there was Arsenal’s interest, and what I didn’t understand was that the club closed the door on it – they didn’t want to have a discussion. I asked why, and the answer failed to convince me. I asked them to speak (with Arsenal) and try to come up with a better solution. If there’s no solution, I can understand that, and I’m happy at Newcastle.
"But I wanted to play for a club with that standard, with all due respect to Newcastle. In the end, they didn’t want to, and that’s life. That was their choice."
"It (going on strike) was a way to express my disagreement – but today, of course, I can say that it wasn’t the right way," added Cabaye, who went on to join Paris Saint-Germain in January 2014. "After that, I think I showed to everyone that I was fully committed to Newcastle, 100%, and there weren’t any problems at all."
It has been reported that, 13 years later, Arsenal are preparing a £70m bid for Magpies midfielder Guimaraes. However, ChronicleLive understands that the Gunners are still yet to contact Newcastle, let alone table an official bid for the Brazilian.
Arsenal still haven't submitted a bid for Bruno Guimaraes (Image: Iain Buist/Newcastle Chronicle)
Furthermore, Newcastle sources have dismissed talk of selling Guimaraes for a fee of £70m as a 'non-starter', meaning it would almost certainly be rejected.
The wait for Arsenal to table an official first bid is understood to be causing frustration for club chiefs who don't want their talisman unsettled going into the new season. Newcastle are growing tired of the so-called third parties trying to unsettle their club captain, with the situation now ongoing for six weeks.
There has been no transfer request handed in by the player or his agency. The 28-year-old, who is under contract for at least two more years, is expected to report for pre-season training at the start of next month for the club's La Manga training camp.
However, it remains to be seen whether Guimaraes follows the path of Cabaye and Alexander Isak by forcing a move. Just 12 months ago, Isak went on strike and refused to board a plane heading to the Far East for the club's tour of Singapore and South Korea.
Isak angered manager Eddie Howe by going AWOL to work alone in Spain and never played for the Magpies again, eventually forcing a move to Liverpool for £125m. If Bruno hands in a transfer request, Newcastle are expected to negotiate hard and hold out for a fee closer to £100m.
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