“Quite difficult” – Player blames manager’s tactics for Newcastle United struggles

RC Lens’ Allan Saint-Maximin has credited OGC Nice for helping him secure a move to Newcastle United, and explained why he wasn’t always on top form with the Magpies.

The winger spent two years at Nice between 2017 and 2019, managing 11 goals and 15 assists from 75 matches.

His performances convinced Newcastle United to bet on him and they brought him to St James’ Park in August 2019. At that time, Steve Bruce was in charge of the Premier League side.

Bruce left after Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took over the club in October 2021. Graham Jones was interim manager before Eddie Howe was then appointed as permanent manager a month later.

The Frenchman left for Al-Ahli in July 2023, and his sale saw Newcastle United collect around £23m.

Saint-Maximin moved to Club América in August 2025 and cut short his stay in Mexico for personal reasons in January. He joined Lens on a free transfer in the last window.

The Ligue 1 side face Nice in the league on Saturday and ahead of this tie, Lensois spoke to the former Magpies man.

Impact of Nice on Newcastle United move

Allan Saint-Maximin’s first European experience was with OGC Nice and the club built his career.

“They gave me the opportunity to play at a high level. I played in my first European Cup. I also played in the Champions League preliminary rounds. They really put me in the spotlight,” he said.

“They gave me the opportunity to go to the best league in the world. I have enormous gratitude and respect for this club, because without them, my career wouldn’t have been the same at all.”

Since moving to RC Lens, he’s scored three goals and contributed three assists from 376 minutes from 10 matches.

When discussing his latest form, the attacker explained why Newcastle United was difficult at times.

“When I was at Newcastle, against very deep-lying defences, it was quite difficult, so the coach would have me start from very deep, asking me to try and dribble past everyone,” Saint-Maximin explained.

“Here, compared to what’s asked of me at Lens, it’s a completely different way of playing, completely different instructions. I really try to adapt to what the coach asks of me, to what the game demands, to try and help my team win matches when I’m on the pitch. I think that’s something I’ve managed to do throughout my career.”

Attacker’s Newcastle United stats

Allan Saint-Maximin spent four years with the English club, managing 13 goals and 21 assists from 124 matches.

He played 64 matches under Steve Bruce [nine goals and 14 assists] and 56 under Eddie Howe [four goals and seven assists]. The rest of the matches were under interim boss Graham Jones in 2021.