Newcastle's 24-year-old Italian full-back Davide Santon has joined Serie A side Inter Milan on a loan deal, with an option to buy until the end of the current 2014-15 campaign.
A surprising move in the end, the full-back had just come back from a serious knee injury and was not in Newcastle's immediate first-team plans, with reports suggesting that he was virtually forced into a move back to Italy in the end. Premier League side West Brom were amongst the interested European clubs in his services, but the side had reportedly already agreed the loan offer from Roberto Mancini's men.
The transfer was officially confirmed on his Facebook page earlier this afternoon, where he wrote: "Life is strange... I never expected to return. Thanks Newcastle and thanks to all the fans for these 3 and a half years together... we've spent many good times.... This city and this team will always remain in my heart. I start a new adventure.... I'm happy to return to Inter... There I started my career and there I lived so many important moments... I will give my best to repay the faith."
The defender's fiance Chloe Sanderson, hinted that her partner was heavily reluctant to leave the club, on Twitter: "Just to put it out there, Davide declined Inter Milan's first offer but was pushed out by Newcastle United to leave... Disgusted with how Davide has been treated, fully fit for a while now with no chance to play - a club whose only intentions are to make £££." Soon afterwards, she deleted the Tweets.