Agent Andrea Pellegatti admits Newcastle United burned off Serie A competition to land Lloyd Kelly.
The former Bournemouth defender made a free transfer to Newcastle over the summer.
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Pellegatti recalled to TMW: "Kelly had several Italian teams interested: expiring, left-footed centre-back, in the prime of his career, capable of playing left-back.
"Surely the decisive aspect was the fact that the coach (Eddie) Howe had already trained him.
"He was his mentor at Bournemouth."