Allan Saint-Maximin's Newcastle United tenure may be over, but he can look back on his Tyneside tenure with pride. The French winger may have divided opinion on the pitch, but was a brilliant in the community and off the pitch with supporters.
The 26-year-old will long be remembered for producing moments of magic to keep Newcastle in the top flight with plenty of supporters gutted to see him leave. Saint-Maximin had spoken about his desire to play in Europe and compete against the best, but after helping secure Champions League football, the Frenchman will move to Saudi Arabia.
Saint-Maximin said: "Newcastle is home now, I'll continue to be your biggest supporter, I'll watch every game and as long as the club keeps winning I'll be the happiest man in the world… and for sure you will see me again I love you, I love you sincerely, I love you like a Geordie brother. Once a Geordie, always a Geordie."
Chronicle Live has taken a look back at some of his finest moments during his time at St. James' Park.
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Man City at home 23/23
One of Saint-Maximin's best game in a black and white shirt came at the start of last season in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City at St. James' Park. The French winger was dazzling that day and gave Kyle Walker a real run around.
"I probably gave Saint-Maximin too many actions at the start of the game which got his confidence up,' Walker told the told Manchester Evening News. "[It was] probably one of the toughest [games] that I have had in a long time.
"It is all about the mind and these players play with confidence. It is down to us as full-backs to make sure their confidence is low, we can get on top of them and be a little bit aggressive."
Burnley away under Steve Bruce in April 2021
There was very little to cheer about during the Covid-19 pandemic and Steve Bruce's Magpies were teetering dangerously above the relegation zone ahead of their trip to Turf Moor in April 2021.
Newcastle knew they needed a win to avoid Burnley pulling clear, and a second-half masterclass from Saint-Maximin kick started the Magpies late survival push. The Frenchman was introduced as a second-half substitute and set up Jacob Murphy for the equaliser within minutes of being on the pitch.
The winger then stole the show with a brilliant solo goal to wrap up all three points. Picking the ball up on the halfway line, Saint-Maximin powered forward towards the edge of the Burnley box, checked back onto his left and picked out the bottom corner with a brilliant low drive.
Wolves volley in August 2022
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Just when Eddie Howe's side needed a moment of magic to rescue a point at Molineux, up stepped Saint-Maximin. The Toon were on course for their first defeat of the season, having made a bright start with a win over Nottingham Forest and draws with Man City and Brighton.
The hosts were a goal to the good following Ruben Neves' first-half screamer. But Saint-Maximin would step up with his own moment of magic.
One of the goals of the season for the Magpies, the French winger lashed home a brilliant volley to maintain Newcastle's unbeaten start to the season.
Southampton winner in March 2020
Newcastle United's last goal before the coronavirus outbreak in March 2020 was another moment of magic from Saint-Maximin. The Saints were down to ten men and Matt Ritchie saw his penalty saved by the inspired Alex McCarthy with Bruce's side on course for a disappointing point on the road.
The Frenchman showed great persistence to rob Yan Valery of the ball on the edge of his own box, finessing the ball into the bottom corner beyond McCarthy to lift the Toon up to 13th. The Premier League was put on pause for almost three months, but when Newcastle did return to action, the win over the Saints would inspire a five game unbeaten run.
Social media responses and rapport with fans
The French winger won't just be remembered for his moments of magic on the pitch, but also his manner off it. Social media banter, mainly aimed at the expense of local rivals Sunderland got the Toon faithful behind him.
Saint-Maximin provided disadvantaged schoolchildren Nintendo Switch Lites. Students at Choppington Primary School were star-struck when the Toon winger appeared on the classroom’s smartboard during their Financial Football lesson delivered by Newcastle United Foundation in June.
On Saturday, 20 November, he went one step further, gifting a Tag Heuer Aquaracer watch worth nearly £2,000 to a supporter hoping to catch a glimpse of his favourite player before the match. The fan - Michael Urwin - told of how "humbled and appreciative" he was of Saint-Maximin's extraordinary generosity.
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