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Salomon Rondon has accused the Newcastle hierarchy of 'not understanding football' and claims he knew he would not be returning to St James' Park the moment Rafa Benitez left the club.

Rondon spent a successful season on loan at Newcastle last term, scoring 12 goals in all competitions.

The 29-year-old had never broken double figures in terms of goals in a single Premier League season during his time with West Brom, but his 11-goal haul last season ended that hoodoo.

And Rondon has revealed he loved his time at Newcastle and he jetted off to represent Venezuela at this summer's Copa America thinking he would be joining on a permanent basis.

But Benitez's departure and subsequent move to Dalian Yifang in China put paid to that.

“It was a beautiful year for me last season. I loved it because the supporters were behind me all the time," he told the Sun.

“I enjoyed playing with the No 9 shirt, I scored goals and the atmosphere at St James’ Park was amazing. Always, I will remember that season.

“Was I disappointed to leave? Yes, because I was waiting for something. I was waiting for Rafa.

“When I went to the Copa America, I thought Rafa would sign for Newcastle. But he didn’t and when Rafa said he was going, my possibility to stay at Newcastle went down straight away.

“Rafa brought me to Newcastle and he fought with the owners to bring me there.

“So when Rafa said goodbye, I felt I would have to say goodbye as well. I understood in that moment I would not sign for Newcastle.”

Rondon has since joined Benitez at Dalian Yifang, signing a lucrative three-year deal with the Chinese Super League outfit.

Benitez had wanted to sign Rondon permanently last summer but the Magpies refused to pay his £16.5million release clause because he had little-to-no sell-on value.

The Magpies hierarchy are happy to spend big on new signings, as long as they have the potential to be sold for profit further down the line.

Instead, they have shelled out a reported £40million to Hoffenheim for club record signing Joelinton - a 22-year-old Brazilian forward who had a similar record to Rondon in the Bundesliga.

And while Rondon understands Newcastle's logic from a business standpoint, he believes their refusal to sign him on a permanent basis highlights a lack of football understanding.

“Maybe a few years ago, Newcastle would have given me a contract," he added.

“But it looks like the owner’s rule is that, ‘Because he’s 29, when I sell I don’t get more money from what I’ve invested in him’.

“I get that because, for the owner, it is a business.

“But I showed to all of them that even though I am 29, I am still scoring goals, I still assist my team-mates, I am still working really hard, I still feel like a young guy.

“I have had 12 years in Europe and no bad injuries, I try to eat properly and I am professional.

“When you hear the comments about my age, those people don’t know about football.”

You can read the Sun's full interview with Rondon, here, as he discusses his move to China, and how he thought West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini - his former boss at Malaga - would make an offer for him this summer.