He might have been a dream for headline writers everywhere but Albert Luque's nightmare stint on Tyneside could be about to grind to a shuddering halt.
United didn't get much change from £10million when they snapped him up from Deportivo la Coruna in the summer of 2005 but there was plenty hope that Luque would do the business in the Premiership after notching a half century of goals in Spain's La Liga.
But it never worked out that way did it?
First Luque picked up a nagging hamstring problem and depression soon set in when he failed to get to grips with the English language despite the best efforts of Nobby Solano who doubled as translator for the player in his early days.
It can't be easy for a player coming to a foreign country but in a city like Newcastle that is obsessed with football it should have been at least easier.
Geordies simply breathe football don't they? But it would appear that Luque has fallen out of love with the game.
The man in charge when Newcastle paid the money for Luque was soon gone in the defeated figure of Graeme Souness.
And when Luque left the pitch in his last game laughing and joking with Kiki Musampa against Man City it appeared that he'd lost the plot while Alan Shearer, Lee Clark and Peter Ramage trudged off either side of him.
In came Glenn Roeder but despite having long chats with the player in an attempt to get the best out of him he still didn't look like he wanted to be here.
Not just on the field of play but his everyday contribution and body language at the training ground.
His total of just 13 starts during his time on Tyneside could well prove to be an unlucky total with PSV Eindhoven now thought to be ready to offer him an escape.
He could even go from the reserves/bench at Newcastle to the Champions League after UEFA confirmed Luque can play in the competition today.
PSV are the first to show their interest but more may follow.
He has showed glimpses of his skill and goalscoring but no where near enough for the Geordie public's liking.
Too often he looked like he didn't care when wearing a black and white shirt even though he is a top bloke off the pitch.
Loads of ability, loads of potential but simply not at the right club.
That's how it works sometimes in football.
And sadly that looks to be the story for Luque at the moment.
Shame though eh?
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