Algerian midfielder Mehdi Abeid was officially unveiled as a Panathinaikos player earlier today, after the Greek outfit agreed a fee with Newcastle United.
Abeid was loaned to Panathinaikos in the 2013/14 season and the Greek outfit were keen to retain his services, but Newcastle decided to hand the 23-year-old one last chance.
He failed to convince the Newcastle hierarchy that he deserved to remain on Tyneside and was allowed to find a new club this summer. After unsuccessful talks with Bundesliga II side Fortuna Dusseldorf, Abeid travelled to Athens to finalise a move to Panathinaikos – bringing an end to his time on Tyneside.
In his four-year spell on Tyneside, Abeid made just 21 appearances for the first-team – not scoring once.
Following his exit, here’s how Twitter reacted:
The last time Mehdi Abeid went to Greece he came back Brazillian. So next time he shows up he’s going to be fucking superb.
— NUFCThreatLevel (@NUFCThreatLevel) August 21, 2015
Will miss Mehdi Abeid like 🙁
— Joseph Parker (@Ghruama) August 21, 2015
MEHDI ABEID IS FUCKING BRILLIANT
— ⚽ (@GaIIowgate) August 21, 2015
Shocking decision to let Mehdi Abeid leave!! Show real promise last season #NUFC
— Craig Grant (@craiggrant1988) August 21, 2015
A bit disappointed to see Mehdi Abeid leave #NUFC. He’s a great talent with so much potential. Good luck in Greece! pic.twitter.com/0W7zWM0t1Q
— James Martin (@i_jamesmartin) August 21, 2015
Got my first toon top in years with Mehdi Abeid on the back…hes gone. Maybe I should get a gouffran and obertan top aswell
— Stewart Fraser (@fraser1892) August 21, 2015
will always remember mehdi abeid for being the first time I ever made a chant that actually got sung at a match
— Novocastrian (@ponsaeIius) August 21, 2015
Didn’t even know we had Mehdi Abeid still. No great loss. Williamson can follow. Hopefully Gouffran too.
— Craig (@CSRytonNufc) August 21, 2015
Mehdi Abeid was never good enough. Not sure what all the raving was about. I never saw anything that suggested he was good enough for the PL
— Scott Daley (@ScottDaley26) August 21, 2015
It’s fair to say that Mehdi Abeid will be missed by the fans, but it’s unlikely that his exit will impact the squad a great deal, considering the depth in central midfield – Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback, Cheick Tiote, Moussa Sissoko and Gini Wijnaldum all competing for a midfield spot, as Gael Bigirimana and Olivier Kemen await call-ups to the senior squad.
