Former Liverpool flop aims slur at Newcastle after revealing major snub

Milan Jovanovic has explained why he rejected an approach from Newcastle after he flopped in his one season at Liverpool.

Jovanovic joined moved to Anfield as a free agent in July 2010, having agreed the move while Rafa Benitez was still Reds boss.

Though the Spaniard resigned the prior June, Jovanovic kept to his agreement. However he struggled to make an impact, making just 18 appearances for Roy Hodgson and then Kenny Dalglish.

He left after just one season to join Anderlecht and win consecutive Belgian league titles before retiring in 2013. But he actually had an option to prolong his stay in England.

The Serb has claimed that Newcastle, having finished mid-table in their first campaign back in the top flight, made an approach to sign him.

But Jovanovic rejected the Magpies, who finished fifth in 2011/12 after signing Demba Ba instead, because he “didn’t want to go one step down in England”.

“After that second part of the season, I had to find a rational solution to extend my career,” he told The Athletic.

“If I had been 25, I would definitely have stayed and fought for my place in Liverpool, like I did always in my life. And I believe I would have had success. But I was 30 and needed to play.

Newcastle a step down on Liverpool

“Newcastle called me and I could have stayed in the Premier League but I turned them down.

“With all due respect towards them, if I couldn’t find my spot and leave a trace in Liverpool. I didn’t want to go one step down in England.

“I wanted to sign for a club that had winning ambitions and played in the Champions League. The Belgian league is not as strong as the Premier League, but Anderlecht is a big club too.”

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