Johan Manzambi reveals Newcastle interest before choosing Aston Villa

Johan Manzambi has spoken about the interest he received from Newcastle United before opting to join Aston Villa in the summer transfer window. The 20-year-old midfielder completed his move from SC Freiburg on 17 July for a reported fee of €70m, having spent two seasons in the German club's first team where he registered seven goals and nine assists last term.

According to Sport Witness, who relayed comments Manzambi made to the Swiss publication 20 Minuten while on international duty, Newcastle were among several clubs monitoring his situation. Eddie Howe's side reportedly agreed a €60m deal with Freiburg earlier in July, but no personal terms were settled with the player, allowing Villa to secure his signature instead.

Speaking about the speculation surrounding his destination, Manzambi told the Swiss outlet: "The plan worked out, I was happy with it. There are always a lot of rumours when you transfer, but you have to be careful what you believe."

His arrival at Villa Park followed a difficult spell at the World Cup, where a knee injury forced him to miss matches against Colombia and Argentina. He spent 67 days on the sidelines before returning to action earlier this month.

Since recovering, Manzambi has quickly integrated into Unai Emery's squad. He made his debut as a substitute during the 2-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on 12 September and has since made two further appearances.

His most notable contribution came last weekend when he earned his first start and scored in the 3-2 Premier League victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Reflecting on that moment, he said: "That goal was a dream come true."

The Switzerland international also addressed his goal celebration, which prompted comparisons online to the anime series Dragon Ball. "Many did indeed think of Dragon Ball, but that’s not the case," Manzambi explained. "For now, that will remain a secret between me and my friends. Maybe I’ll reveal it in a few years."

Manzambi is currently with the Swiss national team preparing for UEFA Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia, Scotland and Slovenia during this international break.