Sunderland have been told they have nothing to ‘worry’ about with Chris Rigg’s links to Newcastle United.
Sunderland fans were left extremely concerned about Chris Rigg‘s future last summer, despite having been yet to make his debut in the Championship.
The teenager had been offered a scholarship deal by the Black Cats after spending most of his childhood at the Academy of Light.
However, Rigg was in high demand after making waves in the academy, as well as making his way up through England’s youth ranks.
The 16-year-old had attracted interest from the likes of Newcastle and Manchester United, while his prior links to the Tyneside club left supporters concerned.
It had already been revealed that Rigg’s family were Newcastle fans, while he was born in Hebburn on South Tyneside.
Despite the Magpies links, Rigg eventually put pen to paper on a two-year scholarship with Sunderland and has since become a regular in their starting line-up.
Newcastle’s interest hasn’t stopped there though and they continue to chase the midfielder, with the Black Cats unable to offer him his first professional contract until he turns 17 years old.
One of Rigg’s former youth coaches revealed recently that Rigg had also turned Newcastle down when he was a young child too, now Sunderland will be hoping his time at the Stadium of Light has managed to cut his ties with their fierce rivals.
Sunderland’s former academy prospect Rees Greenwood has now claimed that the Black Cats have nothing to ‘worry’ about with Rigg, having previously hailed from a Newcastle United supporting family himself.
Greenwood spent 14 years on Wearside before leaving for Gateshead, not far from his hometown of Winlaton.
‘I wouldn’t worry about that connection’
Speaking to Sunderland Echo, the winger said: “He is pretty similar to me in terms of the Newcastle connection.
“When I started playing for Sunderland during pre-season, I had a Twitter account where I had been tweeting Joey Barton years ago and that started to resurface, so I had to go into the club and they helped me get it removed. The social media people had to take it down for me. It is his career and he will want to do well.
“Everyone knows that he has Newcastle family links but it doesn’t make you do any worse or better. The great thing about him is that his football is doing the talking and he is doing his best for Sunderland. As long as he does that, the fans are going to get behind him, aren’t they?
“I wouldn’t worry about that connection. I mean, Rooney was a scouser and he went into Manchester United. If you are doing well for that club, it doesn’t matter and at the end of the day, they’re paying your wages. You have to do well.”
Will Chris Rigg be tempted to join Newcastle United?
No doubt Newcastle United will be one of many clubs trying to snap Chris Rigg up this summer, but I really don’t think he will be tempted into leaving.
The midfielder’s family may support the Magpies, but they would clearly prefer him to succeed and enjoy his football rather than just play for the club they follow.
The 16-year-old has spent most of his life on Wearside now so there is surely no doubt that he is a Sunderland fan at this point, while he makes his love for the club very clear on the pitch.
It’s not to say he won’t leave for the Premier League in the near future, but I don’t think his connections to Newcastle are a huge concern right now.