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Henri Saivet claims he never planned to leave Bordeaux for Newcastle United - and admits he felt “useless” during a “horrible” eight months on Tyneside.

The Magpies signed the Senegal international in January in a £4.5million deal, but Saivet managed just four league appearances in all before being shipped out to Saint-Etienne on loan this summer.

Interestingly, however, Saivet claims he intended to buy a new house in Bordeaux and, when he returned from holiday during the French winter break, was surprised to see a transfer to Newcastle was close to being finalised.

“I had not planned to leave [France],” Saivet told France Football about his move to Newcastle.

“The proof? I was planning move and buy me a new home in Bordeaux but, when I returned from vacation, I was told there was a lot of stress for me and that if I wanted to leave, I could.

“I came back from holiday with the desire to start well and I was told that a transfer was happening.”

When chief scout Graham Carr recommended United should sign Saivet in January, it was anticipated that Cheick Tiote would depart and the Senegal international would fill the central-midfield void.

However, Tiote’s move away broke down and then both Steve McClaren and his successor Rafa Benitez opted for the Ivorian ahead of Saivet.

And the 25-year-old admits it was extremely difficult to sit on the sidelines and watch on.

“I had been recruited to play and I was not playing - it was hard,” he added.

“I had the impression of being paid to do nothing.

“It was horrible. You’re there, you’re useless.”

Last month, Saivet secured a season-long loan move to St-Etienne and he was named in L’Equipe’s Ligue 1 Team of the Week following a successful debut.

He believes he has chosen the right club, despite claiming he received a rival offer from Marseille.

“It’s a place you want to be, it feels really good,” Saivet said of St-Etienne

“Marseille also wanted me but I chose the Greens.

“I want to go far in the Europa League to further grow the club and why not be third [in the league] and play the preliminary round of the Champions League?”

Asked if he had been determined to only return to France, Saivet responded: “No, not necessarily.

“I would have liked to have continued in the Premier League, but it’s hard to find a base when you have not played much.

“This opportunity of Saint-Etienne, it’s good.

“It is a stable club, they have played in the European Cup for many years.

“It is progressing well, that’s the ideal.”