About a year ago and after a saga that lasted for a while, Newcastle was bought by the Saudi Capital Fund and in an instant turned from a bottom group into one that should within a few years challenge all the big ones in Europe in general and in the Kingdom in particular.
Unlike other cases where the purchase of a club turned into a disproportionate acquisition spree, the new owners of the Magpies decided to build gradually, landing coach Eddie Howe in the middle of the previous season and continuing to give a chance to quite a few players, until they decide who can survive the transformation the club is going through and who can't.
The one who currently has become her most important player is one who has been with her since the 2018/19 season - Miguel Almiron.
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#NUFC player of the month for October, Miguel Almiron 🔥 #PL pic.twitter.com/V50Grccomn
— NUFC360 (@NUFC360) November 2, 2022
Almiron is considered Newcastle's best quality player this season and one of the main reasons why they are in third place.
In 17 games he scored nine league goals (the most in the team), the same amount as his total for 4 seasons before, or if we want to be precise in his first 110 games for the team.
He was chosen as the player of the month for October and even picked up the goal of the month.
Almiron was a fan favorite from the moment he landed from the US.
They saw his effort, fell in love with his "baby face" smile but his ability to bring numbers frustrated quite a few people.
His work without the ball and his unselfishness were considered important qualities, but for a long time it seemed as if Almiron lacked quality in the final lane.
Suddenly everything changed.
Almiron is forcing Newcastle to re-evaluate their purchasing plans in the winter window and ahead of the coming summer and within weeks, he is expected to sign a new contract.
Almiron juggles against Leicester, photo: Getty Images
So how did it all happen?
The first season together included video analysis, watching all of Almiron's goals in MLS and Howe's effort to teach the 28-year-old Paraguayan where to run and when and of course mentally strengthened him with quite a few personal talks.
Last season, Almiron found himself in the pecking order behind Ryan Fraser and Alain Saint-Maximin in the battle for the front three, but Howe told him that given his fitness and the quality around him up front, he should find himself scoring goals more often.
What Hau recognized is that, unlike Saint-Maximin, who is more sterile and likes to move, Almiron flourishes when he gets a clear role - on the right wing.
During his days in Atlanta, coach Tata Martino built a champion team around Almiron's ability.
At Newcastle, Rafa Benitez also gave Almiron a defined role but he did not flourish in terms of numbers, and throughout Steve Bruce's two-year tenure as Benitez's successor, Almiron often seemed unsure of his role.
His position changed regularly and he was even deployed as a midfielder who was asked to collect balls from the defense and build the play with his 174cm and skinny frame.
Howe hugs Almiron.
Perfect connection, photo: Reuters
Love from all directions
Haw arrived, gave Almiron the place on the right wing, asked him to cut to the center when he could and this is where the ascension came.
His connection on the field with Kieran Trippier also did him good and he opened quite a bit of space for the right back of the England team.
In addition, Alain Saint-Maximin and Alexandre Isack played a combined 16 minutes throughout October due to injuries, which further cemented Almiron into the lineup and he took the opportunity with both hands.
What happens with Almiron gives great happiness to the fans for several reasons.
One of course is that because Almiron is considered the player they like the most in the club and are happy in his happiness.
A second reason, that their fear that the whole identity of the club will be lost because of the money, is given a calming shot with the place Almiron gets and like him, several other players who were good even before the Saudis arrived when it was clear that they just needed better players and a coach with forward plans.
And thirdly, Almiron is considered a very important person in the dressing room, when Bruno Guimarães, for example, told how much his friend helped him when he arrived in England last season.
Newcastle fans.
Be in love with Almiron even in less glamorous days, photo: Reuters
Today Howe and his players will rise to the most difficult challenge they have had so far against Arsenal.
If they manage to damage the Gunners' run, they will already start looking at them seriously in the fight for the top four and the place in the Champions League next year - a place where Newcastle were last about 20 years ago, when Almiron was only 8 years old.
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