02 May 2023 , 16:00
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Martin Dubravka has blasted “offensive abuse” he received after joining Manchester United. The Slovakian keeper had to delete his Twitter account after he quit Newcastle in August and went to Old Trafford.
Dubravka hoped to challenge David De Gea for the No1 berth and play in Europa League and cup games. He decided to join the Red Devils on loan after being shunted down the pecking order on Tyneside after Nick Pope’s arrival in a £12m deal from Burnley.
But his decision to join one of the Geordies' biggest rivals provoked a minority of Tyneside fans to dish out flack to their former stopper. Dubravka is one of Newcastle’s longest serving players with 132 appearances, and he was an excellent servant during the Rafa Benitez and Steve Bruce eras.
Now back at Newcastle after his loan move - which had an option for United to buy him - was cancelled in January, Dubravka has revealed it was a difficult time. Dubravka said: “Some (of the messages) were very harsh. Some of them were very offensive, to my family and myself.
“I was thinking: Do I deserve this, after five years being here, trying to do my best for the club. But that’s football. Not everyone can love you. That’s not this world.
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“Twitter? The abuse there. I didn’t expect that. But there was the other side of the fans who appreciated the time I’ve spent here, and they showed me love even when I came back.”
Dubravka returned to Newcastle from his loan at Man Utd in January (Getty Images)Durbavka, 34, played twice for Manchester against Villa and Burnley in the Carabao Cup, and he’d hoped for more action. Back at Newcastle he’s played in the FA Cup this season and added: “To be in Manchester was a big challenge, it is a huge club, a huge fan base, but this is my home.
“I’d always given my best for Newcastle, for the fans. I stayed in the bad times, when I had opportunities to leave the club, to go for another challenge. The last four and a half years we’d been fighting relegation, and I stuck with the club and I thought the fans would appreciate that and maybe understand my new situation.
“They are the best fans and they give a lot to the team, and they want loyalty back from the players. But as I said I’ve been loyal to the club for five years - I stuck with the club through bad times when we really struggled and needed points.
“I refused to leave at that time when other clubs made offers for me. I always said this is the place where I found great people, my home. They deserve success. My son was born here and is a Geordie. I’m very attached to the club.”
Dubravka could seek game time elsewhere in the summer or continue as Pope’s deputy. Loris Karius has a deal on Tyneside until the summer, while Karl Darlow is out on loan at Hull, with surgery needed.