Villarreal coach Unai Emery has revisited fielding an approach from Newcastle United earlier this season.

After Steve Bruce's axing, the Toon wanted the former Arsenal manager before turning to Eddie Howe.

Emery told Marca: “Sincerity is an important value. Me, in football, I have always been sincere. I prefer to say things face to face. When a club like this comes, less important than Villarreal, but with a plan to become big, and contacts me, the first thing I did was to listen.

"Then I informed Fernando Roig (the president of Villarreal). And I was honest when the press asked me. I said a club like Newcastle had come forward, I said I had listened and I made my decision.

"I was sincere, with the club, with the press and I made the decision to stay, in total transparency. It's over and I'm very happy at Villarreal. I think the club is grateful for that.

"The wheel continues to turn and we are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Football must go on."