The girlfriend of Davide Santon, Chloe Sanderson, has reportedly claimed that Newcastle United forced the defender to leave this winter and return to Inter Milan.
Sources told ESPN FC on Sunday that Santon, 24, was set to fly out on Monday for a medical before finalising his six-month loan to the San Siro. and the defender arrived back in Italy on Monday morning ahead of a move to the club where his career was launched by Jose Mourinho.
In a series of tweets which were subsequently removed, but published by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Santon's girlfriend said her man had turned down an approach from his former club only to be "pushed out" by the Magpies.
"Disgusted with how Davide has been treated," she tweeted. "Fully fit for a while now with no chance of play -- a club whose only intentions are to make £££. Just to put it out there, Davide declined Inter Milan's first offer but was pushed out by Newcastle United to leave."
"I'm delighted to be returning to Inter," Santon wrote on Facebook. "I started my career there and experienced many important moments. I will give it my all to repay the faith they have shown in me."
He did not appear to bear a grudge against the Premier League club, however.
"I would like to thank Newcastle and all of their fans for these three and a half years together. We experienced some great moments. This city and this club will always have a place in my heart. This is the start of a new chapter.
"Life is strange. I would never have imagined coming back [to Inter]."