Allan Saint-Maximin suffers summer heartbreak…again

Allan Saint-Maximin has missed out on his Champions League dream for the second year running following a tough week for new club Fenerbahce.

Not only did the Frenchman leave Tyneside just after our top four finish, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce – who signed him on loan last month from Al-Ahli – have just missed out at the final hurdle after losing their Champions League qualifier to Lille.

Fenerbache lost the first leg 2-1, after a late goal from Lille gave them a slender lead going into the second leg. Maxi had a solid, if not memorable game, which was actually his debut for the Turkish side.

Fenerbahce went into the second left 2-1 down to the French side, Lille. Sadly for Maxi, his side failed to win the tie and he was sent crashing out of the Champions League at the qualification stage. We watched some of the game, and it was a very Maxi game.

Had they qualified it would have been Maxi’s first chance to play in the Champions League proper, and for now at least he’ll have to wait a little bit longer. Maxi will now spend the rest of his season in the Turkish league, we suspect he’ll have some mild regrets about making the switch.

Maxi, now 27, has two years left on his deal with the Saudi Club Al-Ahli, who he joined after leaving Newcastle last summer. What Maxi does next is unknown, but it’s a shame he won’t get his first taste of UCL football at Mourinho’s Fenerbahce; which feels like a fun new home for the maverick Frenchman.