Villarreal coach Unai Emery has again spoken of turning down Newcastle United earlier this season.

Emery was considered No 1 choice by the club's new Saudi owners to take over from the sacked Steve Bruce, and following talks looked set to be appointed at St James' Park.

However, Emery pulled out of leaving his current club Villarreal at the last moment believing he had a duty to stay at the Spanish outfit with the club going on to appoint Eddie Howe.

"The Newcastle project is an attractive project — something to build, different to Arsenal," Unai Emery told The Athletic.

"With Arsenal, you first had to knock down the walls, which is hard work, then start to build again. Newcastle, no; it was just about building from the ground up. So it is different, and I liked the idea. But I was also grateful to Villarreal for the opportunity they gave me, and we were in the Champions League.

"The Premier League is an attractive league for all us coaches. So when Newcastle called me, I thought a lot about the opportunity to return to England, to a serious project. For me, it was a source of pride, satisfaction — and I appreciated it. The opportunity of a club like Newcastle, what it could turn out to be, it is normal to listen to the offer, to consider it.

"I thought about the offer and I spoke with (Villarreal president) Fernando Roig. But I also had to take into account that we were in the Champions League with Villarreal, mid-season. In the end, with a lot of respect for Villarreal, and a lot of respect for Newcastle, I decided to stay here. I am happy and we are doing an important job."