Achraf Lazaar has denied a report that he said joining Newcastle United was a "bad choice".

The Morocco international, currently on loan at Cosenza in Serie B, still has one year to run on his Toon contract.

Lazaar told The Chronicle: "I've seen suggestions of Newcastle being a bad choice.

"I don't know where it came from. It's fake news.

"People are always talking about me and suggesting I'm saying bad things about Newcastle. But I've never said that.

"I love Newcastle and if I chose Newcastle over Fiorentina in 2016, then that says it all for me.

"Newcastle still means something to me. People can talk or make me look bad.

"People who know me will tell you it's bull**** that I made the wrong choice."